May 13, 1926 – March 5, 2026
Cara Nonna,
Nonna, ogni volta che entravo nella tua cucina mi accoglievi come un caldo abbraccio.
E quando il mondo gira troppo in fretta, io ritorno da te — al profumo della minestra calda, delle frittelle, delle nacatole, delle zippole appena fatte.
Ritorno alle tue storie della campagna, delle castagne e degli asini, a quel modo semplice e antico di tenere insieme le cose.
E soprattutto ritorno a quel sorriso — quello che mi teneva insieme l’anima italiana.
English Translation:
Nonna, every time I stepped into your kitchen, your warmth wrapped around me like an embrace made of sunlight.
And when the world spins too fast, I find my way back to you — to the steam of hot minestra, to frittelle and nacatole, to zippole still warm from the oil, to the stories you told of the farm, of chestnuts, patient donkeys and a life lived close to the earth.
I return to that smile — the one that held together my Italian soul.
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Antonietta Vittoria Lidia Demasi (née Care), age 99, passed away on Thursday, March 5, 2026 with her family by her side. She spent nearly a century on this earth, devoted to family, her Italian heritage and a simple life. Antonietta, who went by Lidia, was born in Fabrizia, Italy on May 13, 1926. She often told stories about life on the mountain and on the farm, bringing the ways of previous generations to life with every word. She also had a witty sense of humor reserved only for those who have experienced as much life as she did. Lidia immigrated to Canada in 1967 and called Thunder Bay home for nearly 60 years. Here, her kitchen was the center of the universe, along with a sprawling garden that, in many ways, carried us all back to the farm in Italy, year after year.
Many thanks to the wonderful healthcare professionals at Southbridge Pinewood who helped take care of her this last year and supported her family who never left her side.
Lidia is predeceased by her beloved son, Vincenzo, and her husband, Francesco. Lidia will be dearly missed by her children, Pina, Lino and Lucia and her grandchildren and great grandchildren.
We had you for nearly 100 years, Nonna. We wish we could have a hundred more.
With love, from all of us.
Funeral Services for Antonietta Vittoria Lidia Demasi will be held on Friday, March 13 with family and friends gathering at St. Dominic’s Roman Catholic Church for the Funeral Mass at 11:00am, celebrated by Fr. Bonaventure Anaike. Visitation will be held in the Church one hour prior to service time. A private entombment will follow the Funeral Mass.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Alzheimer Society of Canada.
Arrangements have been entrusted to the Westfort Chapel, 420 West Gore Street at James.
Please sign the online condolences at everestofthunderbay.com
