With deep sadness and heavy hearts, we announce the passing of our beloved mother Maria Rosa Teti. She is predeceased by her loving husband Domenico, and her parents Domenico and Felicia Bellissimo, with whom she will now be reunited in Heaven.
She was loved by her cherished daughters Agatha (Jacques), Felice (Sam), Rita (Santo), Antoinette (Jose) and Geraldine (Giancarlo). Loving Grandmother to 14 children Anthony (Patricia), Jonathan (Sofia), Christopher (Laura), Nicole (George), Amanda (Lance), Stephanie (Mike), Joseph (Amanda), Samantha (Anthony), Lisa Marie, Maria Christina (Angelo), Olivia, Mikayla, Domenic and Matteo. Beloved Great Grandmother to 11 plus children Ava, Santo, Chloe, Leonardo, Cecilia, Alexander, Amelia, Leanna, Gianna, Nico, and Chelsea.
Maria Rosa was dearly loved by her siblings (PD) Giovambattista (Giuseppina), (PD) Angela, Maria Angela (Carmen), and Vincenza (Rossario).
Maria Rosa was born on November 7, 1932 in San Nicola da Crissa, Calabria, Italy. She immigrated to Canada in 1954. She was a devout Roman Catholic who loved going on pilgrimages, and loved cooking and baking for her family.
Our family would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to all of our cousins, aunts and uncles on both sides of our extended family. For all their love and support and to the home care PSW Support team for always being there for us.
Nonna Maria Rosa
Now from the eldest grandson to the youngest granddaughter, I am so grateful to be able to say a
few words to capture the life of my beautiful Nonna Maria, who is not only an Angel now but
was for the entirety of her life. My Nonna taught me, and everyone else in our great big family
what it means to be strong even when it’s hard, to laugh even in the most difficult times, to
forgive despite our differences, to give even if it’s all you have, to love no matter the
circumstances, and to always hide the good snacks in a cupboard where no one can find them.
She always had a pack of chocolate covered raisins for me when I went over and then made sure
she picked some fresh figs from her garden and white mulberries from Aunt Mary’s tree, to show
my parents that she didn’t just give me candy.
No matter the time of day or night, everytime I would walk into nonna and nonno’s house, she
was always sitting in her little cushioned chair beside the side table in the living room, with a
rosary in her hand, and her prayer book that looked like it was falling apart from the amount of
times she's turned those pages. But it didn’t matter what she was doing because the second we
walked through those doors an endless amount of questions began. Can I make you some pasta,
do you want some ice cream (and it was always the neapolitan kind), do you want some chicholi,
cucumber, and an endless list of food items she had in the house. Now of course she said this all
in italian with a few english words to help me and my brothers keep track of what she was
saying.
Nonna always had a smile on her face when she saw any of her grandkids, especially when we
were all together. No matter how loud the house got or how many splatters of sauce were on her
apron, nonna was her happiest when the family she loved and raised was around. I loved the
holidays at nonna's house, and especially our Thanksgivings at the cottage. There are countless
memories from all the easters, christmases, and new years that we spent there. Even though I
never got upgraded from the kids table because I was always the youngest granddaughter, I
simply loved sitting with all my older cousins who would have “grown up” conversations and
eavesdropping on the newest details of their love lives.
Nonna made having such a big family look easy, but I couldn’t be more grateful because she also
gave me and my 13 other cousins the greatest blessings of all, our moms. Not only do our moms
and zias all encompass the greatest qualities of nonna, but even when nonna was sick, they
carried on traditions and made her recipes so that we would always have pieces of the traditions
nonna created with us.
Nonna helped me find my first big conch shell on our vacation in Florida, she would always let
me put crazy snapchat filters on her to take selfies, she especially loved the dog one, and she
would ALWAYS defend me and have my back no matter what the circumstances. Nonna had the
biggest heart, the kindest smile, the warmest hugs, and the most beautiful blue eyes. No matter
what state nonna was in, you could always look into her big blue eyes and know how much she
loved each and every one of us, how much she cherished every memory and moment with us,
and how she would always protect and take care of us. Whether nonna was at her house, in the
garden, at zia Linas house, or anywhere else, she made anywhere she was feel like home. Nonna
you are the epitome of understanding, generosity, faith, and unconditional love. Thank you for
touching each and every one of our hearts, and for creating such a beautiful family for us to
cherish and carry on your traditions with forever. We love you so much nonna, I know you’re
watching and protecting all of us in Heaven.
Nonna Teti
Losing a loved one is never easy. But losing someone as special as our Nonna is different.
Maria Rosa Teti was a modern-day saint. She was small but mighty; a strong willed and determined
woman. If there was something she set her mind to, there was nothing she would let stop her. Even if it
meant walking in a blizzard to church so she can make it to Sunday mass. Nonna would do it, and she
did. She was always there for us, no matter what it took. She always managed to spend time with us
and find a way to take care of all 14 of her grandchildren at some point in our lives.
I remember as a kid how she would come over every morning to watch me, my brother and sister, and
take us to school. She didn’t drive, or live close either. Some days she would even get on two buses
from her house at 4 in the morning, and walk nearly a kilometer from the bus stop just so she can be at
our place before my parents left for work. She would do things like this for all her family. She would
never complain or make it seem troublesome. She did it with a smile on her face and from the goodness
of her heart. She treated us all equal and found a way to always be there for anyone who needed her,
despite any obstacles that got in her way.
Nonna raised five amazing daughters, Aggie, Lina, Rita, Tota, and Gerri. She had 14 grandkids (names of
which would take too long to list) and 11 great grandchildren, with one on the way. She was blessed to
have a brother and two sisters who lived nearby, with many nieces and nephews, who were always
around to keep her busy. And how could we forget the sons she never had. Her son-in-law’s; whom she
always treated like gold. Maybe sometimes even better than her daughters. She always took care of
them with full stomachs and hot espresso’s each time they showed up for a visit.
The holidays were always spent at my Nonna’s house where we would gather together and fill her large
home with the entire family. But for some reason no matter how big her home, we were always
crammed up in her basement. There was all lot of us and when together things got loud and very noisy,
perhaps this didn’t help with her hearing loss either? But nonetheless that’s what made Nonna the
happiest. Having everyone together where she can enjoy us all under one roof, while filling us up with
her homemade meals. One of which I’m sure we will all miss is her fettuccini pasta that she made from
scratch…. It was good. And She always made enough to feed a small army. The plates of pasta wouldn’t
stop coming out from the kitchen. She would make enough to feed the entire family 2 or 3 times over,
and still have leftovers. God only knows how many days it took for her to prep all that food. But that’s
what filled her heart, her family and seeing them happy and together….
Like making tomato sauce each year. It was always fun for her, knowing she would get to see us all. She
was a pro and had us operating like a well-oiled machine by the time we all turned teenagers. Everyone
was responsible for a different a station of work. From the cutting, to boiling, to jarring. No one was
left without something to do.
My Nonna was very sweet with a calm demeanor. She was small but mighty, and always made everyone
feel welcome. Except when it came to her garden. That was her sanctuary. No one messed with her
garden…. She took care of it like it was her 15th grandchild. She managed it like it was her job and kept it
flourishing with an abundance of fresh food. Her garden helped feed the entire family and grew enough
tomatoes for everyone to make their own jars of sauce each year. But heaven forbid If she found even
one vegetable out of place in there.
As kids when the family would get together, other than the basement, the backyard was our next best
place to hang out. The rest of the house was off limits, almost like a museum. But the backyard was a
great place for Hide and seek or the occasional Easter egg hunt. We would use her garden for some our
best hiding spots. And when she saw us in there, look out, it was over. If she found a cucumber out of
place or tomato on the ground, we knew we were in trouble…. the wooden spoon would come out and
that stern but innocent look on her face would scare us all away. That garden was precious to her.
Although we didn’t know it at the time, she put a lot of hard work into keeping it that way. It was one of
her many passions….
As were her prayers. Our Nonna was a very Holy person. She was committed to God and her religion.
She went on many religious trips with her family and friends which brought her peace and tranquility in
life. As did the rosary, which was always with her. She’s probably said more Hail Mary’s and Our
Father’s in her lifetime then all of us grandkids combined.
There weren’t many times you would go visit her and not see her in the garden or praying the rosary.
That was Nonna. Her faith, her garden and most of all her family were what she cherished the most.
Although her condition over the last few years was difficult for many, we will always remember her as
the strong compassionate Pillar to this family.
She was a sister, wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, and friend, but above all she was a
simple, sweet beautiful lady who will be deeply missed.
She will reunite with her parents, her brother and husband in heaven, and one day again with all of us.
We love you Nonna and we will all miss you. Arrivederci …. until we meet again.
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