LUCIANA
angel with curly hair
you left much too soon
left the notebook and pen
without the words 
you were the needed   salt
that gave the world a taste
of who we were
the healing medicine of   dreams
the words      so many words 
the broken  silences  you embraced
allowed  
we are left  without your  wings 
homeless     without you
                                              gianna patriarca 2024

I've been thinking of Luciana and remembering her as a force of nature, as a woman who was wholly supportive of women's writing,  and as a publisher who devoted herself to bring so many books to light, including mine. I remain forever grateful for having met her.

Sei qui, sempre.   
Missing your smile, your force, your passion, but feeling always the love you shared with us, our work and our books.  Un abbraccio sorella....gianna

Every time I have an encounter with publishing, books, piano, and a beautiful sunset... I remember you.

You were one of the finest women in the world, and in my life.
I believe I will always miss you.
Nasreen Pejvack

Every day I think of Luciana’s warmth, love, and energy. She worked so hard and had talent in so many areas. She published books that no other publisher would touch. She was so brave.  I miss her.

Thinking of Luciana’s family today with much love. Ah Dearest Luciana. What a powerhouse. I miss you every day and every day I thank you for being such an important part of my life and for helping me in so many ways and for supporting me and so many others. With much love.

Thinking of dear Luciana and her family today.  May good memories and the caring thoughts of friends bring comfort and peace. xoxo

Lu is my muse. I find it hard to write in a way she spirited without her eye. I want to send love to the family. I am on board and near, and know how special all of you are.

This photo was taken after Inanna’s book launch on October 2018.  I was one of the authors. Lu was so supportive and kind uduring the editing process,  and when my family suffered the loss of a loved one months earlier.  Thanks again, Lu. ❤️🙏

Remembering dear Luciana today and sending love to her family. Lu was so kind and supportive as a publisher and friend. She is dearly missed.  xo

Never a day goes by without me thinking of Luciana - missing her so much, thanking her for the incredible work she did -  what a fine, warm, generous, kind, energetic, loving publisher, editor, sister and friend she was. That she isn’t here, still seems inexplicable and so heart wrenching. 

Thinking of her family, always. xo xo xo 

I love you Luciana and I can’t adequately express how my heart breaks without you. 

But you look upon us still, with your fierce nurturing spirit, and I know you guide and protect us, celebrate our joys and comfort us in times of hardship.

Yesterday, on the second anniversary of dear Luciana's passing, I thought of all the people she touched. She was a kind and caring publisher and friend. So greatly missed! Thinking about Lu's family and sending hugs and love.  xo Rosanna Micelotta Battigelli

Luciana,  sorella in spirito,   sei sempre nel cuore, e nei ricordi,  you are loved and missed always.  gianna

Two years on, and I still miss you every day. Dear Lu, there will never be another like you.

Dearest Luciana, there’s never a day I don’t think of you. And think of your family. You are always close to my heart. ❤️ Forever missed.

Our beloved Luciana has been in my thoughts often this past year, as well as her immediate family and friends, and our Inanna family. It is still heartbreaking and so hard to believe that Lu is not here with us. . .  but our memories will keep her spirit alive. 
Dear Tino, Claudia, and Stefano, I hope that the caring thoughts and prayers of friends and family will continue to bring you peace and comfort during this season and in the year ahead. God bless. 

I will never forget the warm hug I received from her when I first met her  in person,  in Toronto at my first reading in Oct. 2015.  

She will be missed.
- Nasreen


Thank you for the one year written memory you shared Lisa. One year on, we still can't gather to memorialize this great warrior woman with proper grace and glory. I am so sorry for us all and send love to Lu's family and those who worked closely with her. 

Never a day goes by when I am not staggered by the loss of Luciana. It's still hard to process. I can't imagine what it's like for her family. Luciana, I miss you SO much. Sending so much love to all those who mourn the loss, and we are many. xo 

I was shocked and saddened to hear about the passing of Lu. For twenty years, I worked with her as the French Editor of the Canadian Woman Studies and I greatly valued her leadership. She had a bright and positive spirit - I enjoyed working with her to support a better life for women. 
My deepest condolences to her family that she leaves behind far too soon. 

Dearest Diana - We are so sorry to hear about the heartbreaking lost of your sister, our deepest condolences to you, Susheel, Rajah and Rohan and your family. We wish you love and immense strength during this time. Much love from Suchita and Paavan

Luciana  was a force of nature. She actively sought to correct the imbalance in publishing, skewed against women authors till this day. She published a diverse list long before there was a greater push for it. She was a superhero, active on  many fronts. I've donated to Inanna before, and  most recently in her honor, to help keep alive the dream of feminist publishing she so fiercely championed. She is missed, and she won't be forgotten. Sincere condolences to Tino, Stefano and Claudia.


Sodade (v)
— for Luciana


couriered across seas during a pandemic

so I could have 
points and praise handwritten with care 
by a reviewer attentively chosen by you

whom I wanted to thank profusely 
through you

sample of the convening you quietly crocheted

final thing to pass 
your hands to mine

this manuscript
to cherish



Deepest condolences to Lucianna's friends and family at this difficult time. She helped to build a strong feminist community at York University. Her passion, energy, and commitment were memorable and she will be sorely missed.

Katherine Side 

Tino, Stefano, and Claudia:

My sister Anne, my wife Kathy, and I were blessed to have had Luciana's presence in our lives.


My deepest condolences Tino, Stefano and Claudia. I have just learned of Luciana's passing and while I had not been in touch with her for many years now, her warmth, brilliance and spirit left an indelible mark on me in the years I was working at Inanna. I learned so much from her about how to be a passionate, unfailingly persistent and persuasive champion for women and women's voices. She was an inspiration and a phenomenal soul, and she will be so greatly missed.

The passing of Lucianna has wrent a tear/tear in our hearts and in the feminist universe in Canada. She was a life force, an earth mother, who had so much love to give her family, her friends, her authors and colleagues, Inanna. She was remarkable. So much talent and warmth and compassion, so much emotional intelligence, such generosity of spirit and desire for social justice, such a determination to bring new and under-represented women’s voices to print. Somehow, we will have to collectively mend the tear that her loss has created. She would want that. My condolences to her family. She loved you so much.

I want to send my sincere condolences to Luciana’s family, many friends and colleagues, and let them know how devastating it is to know we have to move forward without this beacon to help light the way.  loss of such an extraordinary, loving person, a mentor in feminist publishing, an intellectual giant who gave us so many fine words, so many varieties of voices. I will remember Lu as a most gracious woman and a sensitive and skilled editor who could dream big and make things happen. I admired her  deeply: her commitment to publishing poetry across the literary and political spectrum was always inspired.  Lu was holding my hand as I completed a manuscript, encouraging me to “finish up” even as she had her own challenges. She held many hands on this journey and kept us near and warm, even when we could not be together.  Generous, warm, wise at all turns, I will miss Lu very much, as will so many others in her wide and ever expanding orbit. 

Luciana will be missed greatly. I cannot forget her role in editing my co-authored book  which I edited with Dr. Sharon Mijares and Dr Nahid Angha. May her soul rest in peace. 
Deep condolences to  her family and her friends. 

Alice Propper
I am so sad to hear of Luciana’s passing.  
She left so many of us with happy memories of her warmth and hospitality.   
She made Inanna ’s book launches such wonderful occasions for celebrating literary accomplishments.  
My condolences to her many friends, colleagues, and family members.  


I only recently learned of Luciana's death, and wish to send my deepest sympathies to her family. Although we had corresponded concerning a manuscript of mine, I only actually met Luciana once, at an Inanna launch last year.  She exuded a vibrant and sincere warmth and had a unique generosity, both in her words, and her hugs. I can only imagine the effect of losing her has had on her family, friends, and the writing community for which she had so much passion.  My sincere sympathies to all, and especially, to her family.

Dina E Cox

So devastated to learn of Luciana's passing.  On November 21st, she wrote me and said, "... looking forward to the time when we can work together on your book!" that will launch this fall.  I can't even begin to express how much I anticipated the opportunity to engage with her, to enjoy her amazing intellect, her generosity of spirit, her vision, her magnanimity and her continued commitment to expanding the definition of feminism through the lens of literature and art. No words will suffice. Love is not a word I use loosely but I loved everything about her from the very start. My heart goes out to you and your loved ones. Rest in power, Luciana.

Luciana took a big leap of faith in committing to publish an unseen manuscript. She offered a kind and generous introduction to the publishing world. Her support was always meaningful and personable. My memories of Luciana are always happy memories; the ones i reach for when feeling unsure or in doubt. 

Sincere condolences from me and my family, and also on behalf of the School of Gender, Sexuality and Women's Studies at York University. Lu was part of our community and we were part of hers.  She was a wonderful mentor to my daughter, Laura,  who worked for her at Inanna for a while.  Lu was a spirited and passionate contributor to women's studies at York. The School has made a donation to Inanna  in Lu's memory. We will miss her very much. Our heartfelt sympathies to her family and friends. 

So sorry to here about your loss of your wife Lu Tino and family.I only heard of her passing from Lester seeing as we haven't been in touch.God bless her soul.May she R.I.P.❤️

Dearest Claudia, Stefano and Tino, 

It is taking us a long time to process the immense loss of beautiful, incredible, brilliant Luciana.  We feel such sorrow knowing that your entire beautiful family will be missing her encouragement, her wise words and all her love.   Our hearts are broken. We send you our love today and always. 

Franca, Santosh, Isabella and Marco Chari

I was blessed by Luciana’s friendship for 36 years. Luciana’s inner beauty and charisma far outshone her dazzling appearance. Luciana was not only fiercely intelligent, she was one of the most intensely driven and capable people I have ever met. And she always made it look so easy.  I was in awe of her taste, her design flair, and her ability to make things happen. She was blessed with many wonderful women friends, several of whom were her mentors, but it was her innate talent that made her a success.  Lu's greatest loves were her family and Inanna. Her daughter Claudia posted the most eloquent tribute to Luciana on her FB page. Here is a picture of Lu and Tino taken on my wedding day. They had just been married privately the day before.

Luciana, you will always be this glorious presence on stage, in our hearts and memories.  Thank you for having loved us, our words, our voices.  You will be missed, are missed, this world is  a little darker without you.  Gianna Patriarca

Dear Luciana,
You gave us all homes for our voices and wove us together.  An Inanna book is distinctive, always authentic, with strong feminist values. You packed three lifetimes of work into your too-short life!  You were Inanna's heart and soul, and I hope we will call carry some of that spark forward.  You transformed manuscripts with your brilliant editing, and you made Inanna a force!  We will all miss you terribly.
Deepest sympathy to Claudia, Stephano, Tino and the rest of your family.  And to all my Inanna sisters (and the occasional brother).

Elizabeth Greene

Dearest Luciana, I hold you close in my heart on this Christmas Day. You shone brighter than the Christmas Star and we will always feel the beauty and power of your light. With much love to Tino, Stefano and Claudia today and to all your loved ones. You are so dearly missed. 

Memories from June 24th, 2006 at Graydon Hall



RIP Luciana
Our hearts are deeply saddened by your passing.
Condolences to Tino, Stefano and Claudia.
Also her sisters Diana, Angela, brothers Rick and Dario JR.
My dear niece was a warm and caring person who gave so much to others and  seldom complained about her serious medical challenges.
Luciana was a trail blazer.  Her strong voice and commitment to women’s causes was a force that moved many people.
Our hearts are broken and we will be forever thankful to have had her in our lives.  My dear niece you will never be forgotten.
We will cherish every great memory and special moments.
Love you
Anne and John 

My deepest condolences to Tino, Stefano, Claudia, and family.  Luciana was a remarkable person whose legacy as a champion of women’s writing will live on. Her beautiful spirit will continue to uplift the lives of those who knew her.  Thank you, Luciana. 



Luciana ad I go back to around 1983 when I  returned to Canada after years in Italy. She shared her interaction with the Italian Consulate and her family's restaurant and her dreams of having a publishing company. I saw that dream arise and come to life. Together with Kirsten Gunter she was my most treasured friend.  
 Ti voglio tanto bene Luciana 

Luciana was a warm and generous presence in the publishing industry, a friend to many, and  a mentor to those starting out. Publishers across the country join our colleagues at Inanna in mourning her loss; we will miss her. Our sincere condolences to Luciana's family and loved ones. 

With deepest sympathy,
Kate Edwards, Executive Director, Association of Canadian Publishers

I was shocked and saddened to hear about Lu.  She welcomed me to my first book launch by taking my sweaty nervous hand introducing me around the room making me feel like I belonged.
I'll never forget her generosity, warmth, love, and graciousness.  Her big heart will always be in mine and I'm a better person for having met her.  

Such a tremendous loss - she was a warm, generous woman who did so much for literary publishing and women writers. I first met her at a conference, and I found her warmth, energy, and passion inspiring. 

My condolences to the family.

Sincere condolences. 

A huge loss—
Rest in Power
Sleep in peace. . .

Thank you 💕

My heart is broken.  Although I knew Lu for over twenty years, I was always surprised by how generous, kind and complementary she was. But it was so genuine.  I am grateful how special she made me feel.  I will remember Lu always, and fondly, while also remembering how she built the publishing side of Inanna- despite  almost impossible challenges. 

I worked on many projects with Luciana over the years, starting from when I was a young writer. I am so very sad to hear this news.  I was always happy to hear from her and collaborate with her- she did an incredible amount of work and leaves a great legacy in publishing. My heart goes out to the family. Sending love. 

To the Ricciutelli-Costa family, 
We are deeply sorry to hear about Luciana passing away.  The Vitulli family sends you our sincere condolences. You are in our thoughts and prayers during this difficult time. God bless. 🙏🏻

My condolences to Luciana's family and friends. I never met her, but I had hoped to do so while she edited my manuscript. I am very sad  that I don't have memories of her. She seems to have been a wonderful person.

To Tino, Claudia, and Stefano, My condolences at the loss of dear Luciana, wife and mother. It was always apparent how much she loved her family. She was such an amazing centre of warmth and love for her larger family as well to which as one of Inanna's authors accepted by Luciana into that august group, I belong. Her smile and embrace encompassed all of us and I always felt cheered by her presence. She was such an astute editor of my work, always offering improvments that later fit so seamlessly into what was so much better for her love and skill. I imagine all her authors feel this way. She made such a difference in our worlds and in the larger world and I can't believe I will never experience her warmth and love again. When I write , I will continue to wonder what she would say about this or that. And  I  know I will never forget her! Love to you all...

Mary Lou Dickinson

Tino, thank you so much for diving into Luciana's phone to let me and others from her more distant pass now about her death. I am shocked and saddened deeply. I first met Luciana in the 80s when she was still with the Italian Consulate and over time she shared so many of her stories and so much of her heart. Although some memories are about hearing her struggles, the ones that leap to mind are about laughing with her. The last time we saw each other was in Vancouver in 2008. She suggested a restaurant that was all the rage and pricier than either of us would usually choose. I chose something that included "popped rice" as part of it. I imagined that as a kind of carbohydrate portion, maybe a small bag like popcorn. When it arrived, I looked and looked and Luciana looked and looked. No popcorn/rice. Then we noticed a small trickle of something grain-like, a bit blackened, about 8 centimetres long and half a centimetre wide, running along one side of my plate. We just looked at each other and burst out laughing; had trouble stopping. Loudly. In this quiet, tony restaurant. 
Ah, Luciana, how I already have missed you, and will certainly now.
My best to Tony and all her family.

I'm so sorry for your loss. Luciana was such an amazing and wonderful person. Sending you all my love.

I was shocked to learn of Luciana's passing and offer my heartfelt sympathy to her family and friends, her Inanna colleagues, and all the writers, like myself, who benefited from her tremendous generosity and endless and hard work. Her passion, to offer a vehicle for a diverse range of women's voices, was singular in this country. She will be missed, her legacy never forgotten.

Tino,  I am so deeply sorry for your loss.  Lu had such heart, an immense sense of pride and purpose and was a truly generous spirit.  It was Lu who encouraged me to start writing way back in 1997 during one of our girls weekends at the cottage.  I'm not a water person, but Lu insisted on coaxing me into the Lake for a swim with her. My first piece was about her...

And she said come
it will be like a baptism
so I let myself be led
over slippery green rock
into dark slapping waters
always head above shoulders
never opening my eyes
let me laze on warm stone
while you dance in the lake
a snake in the sun 
I have been here before  

I am so very grateful for having known her and will miss her dearly.

Love, Sue

I was lucky enough to be part of this moment, and watch two sisters loving each other in a way only two sisters can. Though my times with Luciana were few, her love for Diana was a honour to witness, as was Dianas affection for her. Luciana is a name that focuses on light and I observed to she made every effort to focus on the light on life. Sending love and prayers to her and all her loved her. 

Dearest Family and Friends  …...Thankfully I did manage to meet all immediate family while in attendance at various thrilling  'launch' events with my daughter Renee.  Thinking back to certain of those glorious  moments I'm always  reminded of a chuckle Lu and I had when, as a pooch lover too  ...I commented that now that I've met all her special  2-legged family  ….what about the rest?  Sure going to miss this amazing woman  ...what a  miraculous life !!  Love and huge hugs to all.   Margo Evans

We are deeply saddened by the loss of your sister.  Our heartfelt  condolences  to you and your family.  

Rita, Alex and Pina. 

To Angie and the Ricciutelli Family,

We want to extend our heartfelt condolences to you all.  We have fond memories of Luciana growing up as Angie's oldest sister.  Over the years Angie always shared  Luciana's tremendous accomplishments both professionally and personally with us.  She was  a constant pillar of strength and love for her family.  We hope Tino, Stefano, Claudia, Diana, Ricky, Junior and our dear Angie continue to find  comfort through her eternal memory.

All our love,
Elena, Luana and Sonia

Diana - our deepest condolences to you, Susheel, Rajah and Rohan and your whole family. We are so sorry to hear of the heartbreaking loss of your sister. Wishing you love and strength during this sad time. - love, Vandana and Sanjay 

It's taken me this much time to bring myself to write here. Lu was my co-worker, my friend, my chosen family. We've worked together for 28 years, and she was on the Board of Inanna when I first started there 30 years ago. We were neighbours, she and her family supported me when I became a mom 18 years ago, and have continued to support me personally and professionally. I keep having conversations with her in my head that now we'll never have in person. Lu, I love you, and I'll do everything I can to keep your legacy alive. Much love and hugs, Ruth

Heartfelt condolences to Lu's family and the entire Inanna community. We would not be where we are if it was not for Luciana, for believing in us, loving us, giving so many a voice and a place to feel that they matter. She shall be missed beyond words. 
Anubha Mehta 

I am so stunned and saddened by the loss of dear Luciana. I first met her in 2007 when I was a grad student at York and the English Department sent me to work at Inanna. She and I developed an instant rapport, and for the next thirteen years, I copy-edited and proofread many Inanna titles for her. I witnessed first-hand her deep commitment to the press' feminist mandate, her extraordinary work ethic, her obvious joy and passion for her job. She was so effusive about the work I did for her, so generous with her praise, so encouraging and supportive. I will be forever grateful for the reach of her support and kindness, which I know extends to all those who had the great privilege to work with her. For myself, I will always hold close the memory of her incredibly positive energy, her gracious demeanour, her beautifully warm smile. I will miss her very much. My deepest condolences to her family and colleagues. May her memory be a blessing. 

With our deepest sympathies we are so sorry for your loss. Our prayers and thoughts are with  all you .
Love Renza and Otello Decimelli and families

Our condolences to you and your family on the passing of your sister Diana.  May our prayers ease you through this difficult time.


Condolences to the bereaved family. God rest her soul in peace. 🙏🙏

Very saddened for you loss. Luciana was the very first to read, appreciate and publish my work back in my productive days at York.  A woman of high spirit and intellect and a  true defender of feminism, she will be greatly missed. Please, accept my deepest sympathy.  
Francesca Schembri

Luciana's distinguished legacy is simply vast, driven by a keen intelligence that drew others into her cause. It was a great honour to have Luciana as an editor and to experience both her editorial precision and her generosity of spirit.  May her crucial feminist work live on and thrive as both the groundwork and the seeds of freedom for current and future generations. My deepest condolences to those closest to her, her family, her wider publishing family and all those heartbroken by her passing. Wishing you great healing. 

My sincere condolences on your loss.  She was a kind woman and a wonderful professional.  She left us far too soon.  May her memory be a blessing.

Dear Diana,
Sorry to hear the sad news about your sister Luciana. Our deepest condolences to you and the families. May God give you all the strength and courage to get through this hardest time.
May her soul rest in peace.  
Vijaya aunty and Murlidhar Rao uncle.

Luciana's loss is such a sad tragedy. She will be greatly missed and treasured by the innumerable people she encouraged, inspired, influenced, empowered and I am only one . But an immensely grateful one of so many that she touched. Thank you Luciana. Your legacy is rich and lives on. 

Dear Tino, Claudia, and Stefano, 

Please, accept my condolences for your lost.
I would like to tell you how sad I am to loose my friend Luciana. She was a mentor to me.  Forever, I cherish her friendship and her beautiful personality as she was friendly, brilliant, and resourceful.
Regards,
Ana Isla


Dear Luciana Rictually your existence was a source of joy and life among people who knew you and worked with you and your loss is a great sorrow for us that it’s not easy for me to express with my English as a second language. You gave me a second life when you accepted my collections of short stories, “The Street of Butterflies” and I was able to publish again after fifteen years. Knowing you was a start again in my literary life. You were and still are an amazing person. There is no a single minutes that I don’t think about you. I’m sure your legacy and your passion for written words will continue to be live by friends who worked with you.

Lu, you were such a wonderful woman, so kind and generous. I am honoured to have known you. 

The morning I heard of your passing my front yard was full of mourning doves….I knew it was you telling me to smile! Thank you! 

We have lost an incredible light, just know that it will always shine bright in my heart. 

My sincere condolences to the Costa family. 

Include us with the family who is greiving.

Tino, Claudia, and Stefano,

Luciana, to us, will always be a lioness fueled by heaps of resolve, empathy, and warmth.
We basked in her attention and reveled in her company. 

-With love and affection,
Jim, Heidi, Sasha, and Thomas


Luciana will always be remembered by all as such a beautiful soul whose laughter filled a room, whose gentle nature gave comfort to so many, whose words of wisdom provided guidance and whose love was felt by all who were blessed to have known her.
Sincere condolences for your loss.  Luciana will be missed dearly.  Rest in Peace

Zia Rosina, Linda, Michael, Rosemarie, Lucas and Gabriel Pecchia


So sorry to hear of Luciana’s death at such a young age. I remember how warm and loving and kind she was when I first moved to Canada and spent time with Angie in the house on Lippincott. Condolences to the whole Ricciutelli and Costa families

I was shocked and saddened to learn of Luciana's passing. The last time I contacted her was by email during the first week of December 2020; she  promptly responded without giving any indication that she was ill. Since hearing the bad news, I have been reflecting on what a wonderful person she was and  how she has mentored me. The first time I met Luciana was at Word on the Street in 2012. Sometime later, I submitted my first manuscript to Inanna Publications. Luciana graciously informed me that it was not yet ready for publication, but took the time out of her busy schedule to document the changes she thought I should make to improve the manuscript. Under her mentorship, "Under the Zaboca Tree" was published in 2017,  followed by "Black Beach" in 2018. Unfortunately, she left us before the January 2021 release date of the "Black Beach" audiobook. It is highly likely that I would not be a published author today without Luciana's guidance. I will forever be grateful to her for helping me bring my Caribbean characters to life. I am so sorry for her family. I pray that God gives her loved ones the strength to deal with this tragedy.   

Our heartfelt condolences go out to Luciana's family, friends and close colleagues.  Her vision, energy, and immensely generous spirit were a gift to the literary community and will be sadly missed. 

It hardly seems possible that one individual could create so much, encourage so many diverse writers, and bring so many people of like mind together, but she did exactly that.  Her legacy in women's writing will live on and grow into the future.

Maria Meindl and the Draft Reading Series

I met Luciana in Vancouver, BC, at a book launch.  That was when I had just resubmitted my manuscript to her after receiving her comments.  Luciana made me feel like  I have found a home, and now I honestly feel lost and confused. She has touched every Inanna writer I have met and every Inanna book I have read.  Her footsteps are everywhere.  I am so sad but also so proud that I had this opportunity to get to know her. My prayers are for her family and loved ones in such a difficult time. 

I met Luciana on several occasions. Her passion for female authors , once expressed during a speech at the Heliconian Club, brought me to tears. I met her again at the diversity event in Mississauga. Her advocacy for women's writing was astounding. On top of that she was a warm, open and charismatic person. 
She will be much missed. 

My sincere, heartfelt condolences to you all, her beautiful family and community. 

Tino, Claudia, and Stefano - I am here for you always. Whatever is needed.

Sending all my love and sharing your heartache and pain.

There are no words to express how deep and personal the loss of our beloved Luciana is for so many of us that worked with her over the years, and had the privilege to call her friend.

She was a gift to everyone who knew her, and everyone who knew her loved her. She's the best person I've ever known.  The kindest, most supportive mentor anyone could ever hope for.

I thank her for her friendship and trust,  and having the confidence in us to sustain and cherish her beloved Inanna Publications as she did for 28 years.

Sending so much love to you all at the terrible, unimaginable time.

Dear Ricciutelli-Costa family,

We are so sorry for your loss. As we sure you know, Luciana was a dear friend and mentor to many in the Canadian publishing industry to many, including us at Book*hug Press. We have so many fond memories of Luciana, from sharing meals during international book fairs, sitting with her on boards and various committees, to long phone calls and coffee dates to talk through difficult publishing-related matters, and so much more. We will forever miss her warmth, spirit of generosity, and hugs. Our most sincere condolences to you, her beloved family. She always spoke so lovingly of you. We cannot imagine the pain you must be going through. She was a powerhouse and a force in Canadian publishing. We adored her. 
Sincerely,
Hazel and Jay Millar

I am deeply sorry to hear about the news of Luciana's passing. My condolences to her family and close friends. This is a great loss to the literary community in Canada. She was a guiding light and a brilliant spirit. The legacy she leaves behind is a testament to the strength of her vision, her dedication and her beauty. 

I have a great respect for our dear Luciana, I am deeply sad and angry, she was too young and too active for leaving us this soon. 

She loved my backyard flowers.

Thinking about her.
Nasreen

Tino, we are so sorry to hear of the passing of Luciana. We only met her a few times but from all the messages  we see it is clear she was a beautiful, outstanding human being. You are fortunate to have her in your heart. Paola e Rino

You Were Brilliant Light

and strength.
Both a warm, safe place and a force 
to be reckoned with.
That big, beautiful mind
a stellar corona of that big, beautiful
heart.

You were a solid foundation upon
which so many new writers,
new feminists, people,
built. Uplifted, indeed 
wings, you gave
with care and unrestrained
generosity.

Filament, illuminated
light in dark places, opened
minds with honesty and
heart.

Carbon darkened, burned so bright
it must burn out.
Brilliance ended in a cold flash.

And yet the glow
lingers. All that
was built in the light
will not crumble.


In memory of Luciana Ricciutelli, feminist warrior, fearless editor.



With so many others, I am devastated by the passing of the truly one and only Luciana. Though words usually bring me clarity and purpose in times of difficulty, they fail me now as no words could ever capture and convey all Lu meant to me and so many others. She was a dear friend for close to three decades and my mentor for two decades plus. I do not know anyone as generous with her time and wisdom than Luciana; far too many times to count she was there for me with her sage advice, wicked humour, and nurturing care as I sought to establish my own journal and press modelled on the huge success of Luciana’s CWS journal and Inanna Press. With her perseverance, brilliance, compassion, and grit she single handedly put Canadian feminist writing and research into the world; countless authors and readers owe her a bountiful debt of gratitude. Lu always gave her all to each and everyone of us who were blessed to have her in our lives.  Though she had countless friends and fans, Lu always saw each of us as special with her loyalty and attentiveness. I will always remember that every time I spoke with Luciana she put her hand on my shoulder to bring me closer to her. I will forever hold those hands in my heart.  In your passing I hope you know how much you were loved and honoured; and by so many. 

Remembering Luciana

Don and I are heartbroken at the passing of Luciana. 

She was one of the most passionate, involved, pro-active and just plain smart publishers I have known in my long career. Her devotion to the literary community and to literary women in particular was exemplary. I felt the care and attention of Inanna personally and professionally and of the whole Inanna family of writers that she nourished so tirelessly.

She has left us all with the shining example of creative energy in the cause of good books. Her special brand of publishing dedication, imagination and enthusiasm will continue to inspire and to flourish. 

Patricia Keeney and Don Rubin


I was shocked and heartbroken to hear of Luciana's passing and am so sorry for your loss. I worked with Lu at Inanna for many, many years and will miss the kind, personal approach she took in every interaction. An email from Luciana was like a warm hug, such a surprise in a world that can be quite cold. Love you dear Lu.

I send my deepest sympathy.  My first contact with Luciana was calling her, out of the blue, to press for an answer about publishing my book. I was amazed at her warmth, energy  and encouragement, and later for publication. Countless writers, I'm sure, will say the same.  My last contact was at Inanna's 40th  anniversary, where I was awed by her vitality, warmth and bubbling energy.  In spite of everything she was enduring.  Inspired by who Luciana was, I'm grateful for her great contributions as a feminist, activist and a leader in the vibrant world of Canadian literature.   Mary Corkery 


In my nine years with the Association of Canadian Publishers, Luciana was one of the most gracious people I encountered -- always supportive, always positive, always generous. As a one-time feminist publisher myself, I have great respect for what Luciana accomplished with Inanna, but especially I will remember her  as a woman of grace and kindness.

It saddens me greatly to hear of the passing of Luciana and I offer my heartfelt condolences to you, her family, and to Inanna. I had the honour and pleasure of working with her genius on my book "A Diary in the Age of Water" which, through her tireless attention, was greatly improved. She was a beautiful and vivacious human being and a powerful force for justice and the voice for women...

Gosh, Lu, we're going to miss you! We'll miss your smile, how it warms up a room. We'll miss your guiding light in the dark room of injustice. 

But you're on a bigger journey now and your light will shine on ever more brightly with those you've touched--in our hearts, memories and missions.

In deep sympathy,
Nina




OBITUARY

Luciana Ricciutelli-Costa

19 February, 1958 – 14 December, 2020

Rosar-Morrison Funeral Home & Chapel

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