Born in Spezzano della Sila, Cosenza, Italy, to Antonio and Leonilda, Vincenza moved to Canada when she was 9 years old with her parents and siblings, Maria (Paul), Rosetta (Bryan), and Sam. Her youngest sibling, Susie (Steve) was born in Canada.
Vincenza chose the English name Wendy (taken from Peter Pan) when she was in elementary school in Burnaby, as was the custom in those days if one had a foreign name that did not translate to English. Vincenza graduated from Burnaby Central in 1962 and went on to earn a teaching certificate and to teach Catholic school in Vancouver for two years. She then completed a Bachelor of Education degree with a major in library sciences from the University of British Columbia and then taught in Surrey for seven years.
Vincenza married Ian Cameron (Mary) and they moved to Victoria and had Samantha. Ian and Vincenza remained on good terms after their relationship ended. Vincenza taught in the Saanich School District at Mount Newton and Bayside middle schools until she retired in 2003. She was also the President of the Saanich Teachers’ Association from 1990-1993 where she applied her passion for improving working conditions for teachers. While working, Vincenza earned a master’s degree in curriculum studies from the University of Victoria.
Pursuing many different interests, Vincenza was very active with Sacred Heart Parish, the Catholic Women’s League, the Canadian Federation of University Women, book clubs and bridge. Vincenza also loved going for drives and walking in Sidney and Victoria. Vincenza will be missed by her daughter, son-in-law, siblings, nieces and nephews and her many friends.
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