It is with deep sadness that we announce the sudden passing of our beloved husband, father and nonno Giuseppe Lopez on February 14, 2023 at the age of 85 years. Born in San Giovanni in Fiore, Cosenza, Calabria in Italy, he is survived by his beloved wife Rita of 64 years, son Giovanni (Rosa); grandchildren Rita and Giuseppe, daughter Rosa (Angelo); grandchildren Dimitri and Margherita, daughter Teresa (Alfredo); grandchildren Franco (Felicia) and Marcello, daughter Pina (Saša); grandchildren Alessandra and Vanya, and son Saverio (Michele); grandchildren Mateo and Saverio Jr. He is also survived by his brother Antonio (Angela) and sister Maria, brother-in-laws Salvatore (Giuseppina), Francesco, sister-in-laws Teresa and Rosina and numerous nieces and nephews in Vancouver, Italy and in France. Giuseppe was a pillar of support for his family. He was a very hard-working, courageous, and a caring man who along with his wife made many sacrifices. He immigrated to Canada in 1967 promising to build a better life for him and his family. What a wonderful legacy he has left behind, knowing that his children and their families will continue living their lives with love, strong work ethics, morals, and values. You will forever be in our hearts, leaving your memory within us all. May God wrap His loving arms around you and fill you with His eternal peace.
Ti vogliamo tanto bene Papa e Nonno.
Viewing will take place on Tuesday February 21, 2023 from 6:00-8:00 pm at Bell and Burnaby Funeral Chapel at 4276 Hastings Street, Burnaby, BC. Funeral mass will be celebrated on Wednesday February 22, 2023 at 1pm at St. Francis of Assisi at 2025 Napier Street, Vancouver, BC. Entombment will be held at Ocean View Burial Park, South Mausoleum, 4000 Imperial Street, Burnaby, BC for the immediate family only. Thank-you for all your thoughts and prayers. They are truly heartfelt and appreciated. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Heart & Stroke Foundation would kindly be appreciated.
To live stream the Funeral Mass please go to www.sfaparish.ca
Rosa's Letter translation
Dear Papà
You left us suddenly on Valentine’s Day, right on the biggest day that love is celebrated, without any warnings. We didn’t even have a chance to hug you or to tell you how much we love you for the last time. Today however, we are beginning to understand a bit more the Reason. Deep down you already knew. You were very prepared for this day, in fact you left some very important funeral arrangements already planned. We know you did this to make our final planning somewhat easier for us. For this we are all sincerely grateful. Only six days ago, I finally understood what you had been talking about. In that small cardboard box sitting on the counter in your bathroom which you had been referring to months prior, were the 3 special items that you and mamma had brought back from your last trip in San Giovanni in Fiore in the year 2000. Amazing Papà! You are a very wise and intelligent person, a planner and a visionary. You realized that everything that you needed to accomplish in your life was already completed in such a perfect way. You decided on February 14th, with God’s help, that it was your time to return Home to embrace your mamma Rosa and your papa Giovanni, not to mention your sister Rosina and brothers Domenico and Fedele. Please say hello to all our loved ones and give them a big hug from us.
Dear Papà, you have left us with deep sorrow in our heart, a feeling never felt before. We are all very sad and in a state of disbelief, especially mamma, who is missing your presence around the house every moment, the house you helped build for us. We can feel you everywhere we turn. Everyone is telling us that this is very normal because in fact Death does not mean Separation. It is exactly like Saint Augustine used to say, “ The dead are only invisible, they are not absent.”
Papà , we would all like to say Good-bye with lots of love and affection from the bottom of our heart.
Thank-you for your life and for all our beautiful memories which will be cherished forever. To conclude, like we are praying for you, pray for us and for mamma from up there.
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