Claudia Colussi

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Claudia Colussi on Tuesday May 18th, 2021. Loving wife of Alceste, caring mother to Anita (Stephen), Paolo (d), and Crystal (Jonathan), and cherished nonna to Tyler, Jamie, Haley, William, and Ethan, she will be sorely missed.

Claudia was born on September 26, 1943 in Azzano Decimo, Friuli, Italy, to Doralice Facca and Giacomo Luvisotto. Along with her brothers Bruno (d), and Lorenzo (survived by Egle Luvisotto and nephew Eric), the family immigrated to Canada in 1954 where both opportunity and unfortunate tragedies awaited.

Of course the biggest opportunity was meeting Alceste through a family friend in 1965. After a couple of years of dating they were married on July 29, 1967. A year and half later Anita arrived, followed by Paolo, and Crystal some years later.

Claudia became a teacher where hundreds of Grade 1 students and their parents would adore her. Although she taught some Kindergarten and Grade 2, she mostly taught Grade 1 in her 30+ year teaching career before retiring in 1998 to start her new career as a nonna. She just wanted to be around her grandchildren. Back in those early days, she didn’t need a university education to become a teacher, but nonetheless she went back to school, and attended the University of Toronto, and achieved a Bachelor of Arts after many years of night school. We were and continue to be so proud of her in that achievement.

There were many fixtures in Claudia’s life with Alceste. The countless New Year’s Eve parties and feste at the Famee Furlane, where they ate, danced, and sang those evenings away with their closest friends. Those same friends accompanied them on many trips. In addition to sticking with those cultural traditions, Claudia and Alceste loved the theatre and the opera, attending dozens upon dozens of performances over the years. Many fond memories.

Another staple was the family cottage in the Beaver Valley area of Ontario. Both Alceste and Claudia love being up there. Claudia loved plants and Alceste had to dig a huge flower garden in the front yard where Claudia could plant dozens of her favourite flowers. The cottage was a host to many family reunions as well. There was a span of time in the early 2000’s where it seemed each year, Alceste and Claudia would host one side of the family tree for a gathering so that everyone would have a chance to see one another. It was a lot of work, but that didn’t stop her organizing the next one as soon as the last one was over.

There were indeed a lot of great and happy memories. But there was tragedy too. Claudia’s brother, Bruno, died in a car accident on the 401 in 1957 along with five others. She first learned about it on the radio. Of course there was the tragedy that no parent should ever bear, the passing of Paolo. Both the types of wounds that never really fully heal. Adding to all that, four years ago, the unfortunate passing of her remaining brother, Lorenzo.

In the end Claudia too, seemed that she couldn’t escape the string of bad luck. In May 2018 she suffered a mild stroke, which changed her noticeably but not drastically. A second stroke followed a month later which was debilitating. Then finally in January 2020, she was diagnosed with a seizure disorder. Overall the last two years haven been very difficult.

However, we’re going to set aside those dark moments and cherish the many happy memories we have of Claudia. All those times at the cottage, family gatherings, trips, dances, outings to the theatre, art gallery and museum will be the everlasting memories that we will all treasure.

Anita and Stephen, and Crystal and Jonathan will be forever grateful for all the love and support for being there after our children were born, even giving up some of those cherished trips to stay back and help. You are ingrained in our hearts.

In lieu of flowers, please feel free to make a donation to North York General Hospital Foundation. Special thanks to the palliative care team. Your care has been extraordinary and we will always remember it. Special thanks also to Linda, Claudia’s caregiver for the past three years.

While our hearts are heavy, we will always remember her with great love and admiration.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Due to COVID restrictions, a private family visitation will be held on Saturday May 22, 2021 from 2:00 pm until 3:00 pm at the Kane-Jerrett North York funeral Home. A private family funeral service will follow in the chapel at 3:30 pm which will be available by webcast for anyone wishing to attend virtually.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.kanejerrettnorthyork.ca for the Colussi family.