Maria Panzetta

September 26, 1946 – February 14, 2016

After a courageous battle with cancer, Maria passed away peacefully on February 14th with her family by her side. She is predeceased by her husband Gerry and is survived by her daughter Miriam (Tom), son Raffaele (Zita) and her six precious grand-daughters Sofia, Julia, Gabriella, Alessandra, Maya and Emilia. Her brother Antonio (Immacolata), nephew Fernando, niece Simona (Amedeo) in Italy as well as a large extended family including many nieces and nephews and friends in both Italy and Vancouver will miss her dearly.

Maria was born in Ariano Irpino, Italy. She grew up in Villanova del Battista where she met and married Gerry in 1965. Maria immigrated to Vancouver in 1966 where she and Gerry settled in North Vancouver and raised their family.

Maria’s love for her family and friends showed through her many passions in life which included cooking and baking – her holiday dinners were famously delicious. Maria’s other talents and interests included her enormous garden of vegetables and fruit trees as well as sewing, crocheting and knitting. Her later interests included cruising to the Caribbean, Hawaii, Alaska, French Polynesia and Central America.

Maria was not only a devoted wife but was a loving mom and nonna. She adored her grand-daughters. Even through her pain, her grand-daughters could always bring a smile to Maria’s face. Maria was loved by many and admired for her kindness and generosity. She would always lend a helping hand to anyone who needed it.

The family would like to extend their sincere thanks to Dr. Jennifer Walker and the nurses and aides at the North Shore Hospice for their gentle care of Maria over the last three weeks.

A prayer service will be held at Ocean View Chapel (Burnaby) on Tuesday, February 23rd at 7 pm and a Mass of Christian Burial will follow on Wednesday, February 24th at 10 am at St. Helen’s Church (Burnaby).