Giovanna Leo

A visitation for Giovanna will be held Tuesday, October 26, 2021 from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM at Delmoro Funeral Home, 61 Beverly Hills Drive, Toronto, ON M3L1A2. A visitation will occur Tuesday, October 26, 2021 from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM, 61 Beverly Hills Drive, Toronto, ON M3L1A2. A funeral mass will occur Wednesday, October 27, 2021 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM at St. Philip Neri Roman Catholic Church, 2100 Jane St, Toronto, ON M3M1A1. An entombment will occur Wednesday, October 27, 2021 from 11:30 AM to 12:00 PM at Westminster Cemetery, 5830 Bathurst Street, North York, ON M2R 1Y6.

Contributions in Giovanna's memory may be made to Heart & Stroke Foundation, www.heartandstroke.ca.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.delmorofuneralhome.com for the Leo family.

Elogio di Giovanna Sciortino in Leo in italiano.

Good morning family and friends, on behalf of my immediate family , I will be saying the eulogy in Italian and then the grandchildren will be interpreting this eulogy in parts in English.

Cara mamma siamo reunite tutti in chiesa per il tuo funerale.

La tua morte e venita come un rapinatore di notte che ti ha portato via da noi senza aspettarlo quel giovedi il 21 ottobre. In verita, e stato Gesu che ti ha invitato con gli angeli per andare insiemi con loro.

Nata il 17 maggio nel 1928 naque la nostra mamma Giovanna Sciortino. Da piccola fina l’ultimo giorno di vita possiamo descrivere a Giovanna piena d’energia che lavorava tanto aiutanto all sua mamma Maria Bentivegna crescere a tutti 8 figlie incluso il piccolo Pietro che e morto a 6 mesi.

Come figlie, nipoti, sorelle e fratelli, ti siamo visto come una donna « invincibile ». In Inglese sei stata la nostra « Wonder Woman ». Sei stata la madre per tutte. Sei stata anc he una «leader» per tutti como cugini, fratelli, sorelli, figli e anche per papa. Senza di te e la tua voglia d’immigrare in Canada in 1965 non saremmo qui in Canada si non fosse per te.

Non dimenticaremo come hai convinto al nostro padre che non voleva immigrare in Canada. Sei stata vero forte di lasciare la nostra bella Sicilia per l’avvenire dei vostri figli.

Possiamo dire che ci lasci discrevendoti come « una forte combattente ». Nella tua vita hai avuto tante malatie ed operazione dove hai supervisuto.

Il tuo cuore si spezzo il 8 gennaio di 2015 quando e morte il tuo caro marito, il nostro padre Giuseppe Leo.

Percio guesto giovedi passato ci siamo rimasti in shock per sentire dell atua cara abbadante, Linda (Raquel) che e una infermiera che non sentiva il tuo battito del cuore quella mattina alle otto e mezzo.

Guardando e ascoltando ai paramedici che hanno provato senza successo di ravvivarte dicendoci che sei mort a causa del arresto cardiaco . In quel momento ci hai lasciato un eredita fortissima.

Non sentiremo piu le storie che ci contavi di tuoi fratelli e sorrelle che ci facevi ridere. Nemmeno sentiremo piu tutte le storie della seconda guerra mondiale.

Abbiamo quasi memorizati tutte le storie delle tue serenate come signorian o quella del tuo principe azzurro Giuseppe Leo come ti aveva incontrato messo la piazza andand in chiesa. Questo bel principe Giuseppe nel estate del 1946 si e inamorato con te subito. Quel giorno dopo la messa, Giuseppe chiesse al nonno Francesco si Giovanna, la principessa del suo cuore potrebbe essere la sua moglie. Il nonno Francesco ha risposto al nostro caro papa adesso deceduto, “Contenta lei, contenti noi, genitori e content tu”.

Nemmeno 3 mese dopo, la bellissima Giovanna e bello Giuseppe al 27 ottobre in 1946 hanno celebrato la loro giorno di matrimonio.

Cara mamma, oggi is 27 ottobre di 2021, il caro papa invita a te, la sua cara sposa di riposare

in pace in la tomba a fianco di lui.

Allora carissima mamma e regina nostra ci lasci confusi dove e il giorno piu triste per noi di separarci per sempre in questa terra, pero dell’altra mano siamo molti contenti che ti riaggiungi con il caro papa, il tuo re nel piu bello giorno della vostra vita.

Giovanna Sciortino Leo’s Eulogy in English

Dear Nonna Giovanna, we are all reunited in here in church today for your funeral mass. Your death came like a thief in the night that took you away from us unexpectedly that Thursday morning on October 21st. In reality, it was Jesus that invited you with his angels to join them.

On the 17th of May in 1928, our dear Nonna Giovanna Sciortino was born. From childhood up to her last day we can describe our Nonna Giovanna full of energy and a hardworker. She helped her mother, Maria Bentivegna, raise all 8 children, including baby Pietro, who passed away at 6 months of age.

We as grandchildren, children, sisters, brothers, nephews and nieces have seen Nonna Giovanna to be “invincible”, just like “Wonder Woman”. You were a mother to everyone. You were also a “leader” for your cousins, everyone mentioned and also for Nonno Giuseppe Leo. Without you and your strong will to immigrate to Canada in 1965, we would not be here in Canada if it were not for you. We will never forget how you convinced Nonno who did not want to immigrate to Canada. You were truly strong to have left beautiful Sicily for the future of your children.

We can say that you are described as “a strong fighter”. In your life, you have had many illnesses and serious surgeries that you have survived. Your heart broke on January 8th, 2015 when our dear Nonno and your beloved husband, Giuseppe Leo, passed away.

So therefore, this past Thursday, we were left in shock to have heard from your dear caregiver nurse, Raquel, that you fondly called Linda, that you were no longer responsive and without a heartbeat at 8:30 am. Just watching and listening to the paramedics trying to revive you without success and officially pronouncing your death due to a possible cardiac arrest was the moment you left us a strong, unforgettable legacy.

We no longer will be listening to your stories that you told us of your siblings that made us laugh and the sad, heart wrenching World War 2 stories. We have almost memorized all of your stories of your serenades when you were a single, beautiful, young lady and the story of your charming prince Giuseppe and how he met you on his way to church. This handsome prince Giuseppe in the summer of 1946 fell in love with you at first sight. The day after the mass when he saw you, he went to our great grandfather Francesco to ask him for your hand in marriage. Great grandfather Francesco answered to handsome Giuseppe, who is now deceased, “If she is happy, we as parents are happy, and happy to give you her hand in marriage”. Not even 3 months passed and the beautiful Giovanna and the handsome Giuseppe on October 27, 1946 were joined in matrimony.

My dear beloved Nonna, today Wednesday, October 27, of 2021, our beloved Nonno has invited you, his beautiful spouse to rest in peace at his side at your final resting place. Therefore, dear Nonna, queen of our hearts, today you leave us slightly confused, where today not only represents a sad day of earthly separation forever as we bury you hare on earth; however, on the other hand, you leave us very happy to join with dear Nonno, your king on earth and God, your king in heaven, on this most beautiful day of both your lives. Not only are we bidding you farewell but our sincere congratulations for 75th wedding anniversary.

Happy anniversary, dear Nonna and Nonno from your children, Lilla and husband Antonino Manno; Maria and husband Franco Casciaro; Giuseppina and husband Benny Del Duca; and not to forget all of your grandchildren, great grandchildren, nephews, nieces, relatives and friends.

Goodbye and congratulations until we meet again in heaven.

Rest in peace. Thank you.