Maria Rosa
Portolese
1930 - 2026
It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved mother Rosa Portolese Ientile, age 96, on July 27, 2026. Predeceased by her dear husband Nicodemo Ientile and her beloved daughter Carmela, as well as her brothers, Gaetano and Paolo, she will be dearly missed by her brother, Dominic (Pina), her sons Vincent (late Anna), Frank (late Shirley), her daughters Claire (Renzo), and Marisa; her grandchildren Amanda, Celia (David), Massimo (Mélanie), Shanna (Jeremy); and her great grandchildren Sofia, Giordano, Alessio, Adriano, Avianna, Magnus, Leona, Samira; many nieces and nephews, dear friends and family relatives.
Arriving in Canada from Italy at Pier 21 in Halifax and thence to Montreal with her husband and a brood of five very young unruly children, she immediately set about finding work as a seamstress so she could help her family quickly acquire their own home. It did not take long for this young working mother and consummate multitasker to establish a tradition loving, culturally adapting, and love filled household.
With a powerfully innate belief in the authentic blessing of family love and the unquestioned certainty of its soulful state of grace, she would dedicate the rest of her life, and yes, blissfully welcome every sacrifice, in the original profound meaning of the word: to make holy her heart's joy; in sacred service to providing her children with deep roots of family love and belonging, and capacious wings so they could aspire to the holiest heights of their love's longing. And to this task she wholeheartedly devoted her indefatigable energy, her spontaneously good humour, and her ever soulful and ever joyful spirit of deep love.
A great matriarch and a beautiful soul has departed from our lives. We are saddened by our loss of her love's constant and graceful presence, but we are profoundly grateful to have shared in the love and the triumph of her long and courageously joyful life.
A celebration of her life will be held at the Yves Légaré funeral complex, 7200 Newman Blvd. LaSalle, on Thursday July 30 from 5pm to 9pm, followed by the funeral service on July 31 at 11am at Madre Dei Cristiani Church, 7935 Lefebvre, LaSalle, Quebec.
She will be laid to rest alongside her beloved husband at Notre-Dame-Des-Neiges cemetery, 4601 Côte-des-Neiges.
In lieu of flowers a donation may be made to the church of her devotional prayers.
