Carmen John Paolucci

Carmen John Paolucci passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family, on July 4, 2026, at the age of 85.

Born in Fossacesia, Chieti, Italy, to Luigi and Gilda Paolucci, Carmen immigrated to Calgary, Canada, at an early age. He spent much of his life in Alberta, later dividing his time between Alberta and Arizona before settling in Victoria, British Columbia, where he enjoyed living near the sea. He married the love of his life, Edna, in 1959, and together they built a family.

He began working as a bricklayer but found his true calling as a master stone mason and blaster, extracting stone from the earth before crafting it into buildings, bridges, fireplaces, monuments, trails, and landscapes throughout Alberta and Arizona. He also owned and operated the Ribbon Creek quarry in Kananaskis, on the site where Kananaskis Village now stands, supplying stone for projects throughout the region.

Known to many as “Mr. Stone,” he built a reputation for his skill, discipline, and pride in his work. His craftsmanship can still be found in places where people live, work, gather, and explore. He was especially proud to have contributed to projects such as the Banff Springs Hotel extension, the Yoho National Park Visitor Centre in Field, BC, the Last Spike monument, and the trail to the Lake Agnes Tea House at Lake Louise. He also worked on projects across Canada, and in the United States, Italy, Argentina, and Australia.

Yet some of his proudest achievements were building a home for his young family on 29th Street in Calgary and completing projects in Arizona, including the Back o’ Beyond and Jack’s Canyon bridges in Oak Creek Canyon. He also took great pride in mentoring others as an instructor at the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT), helping to pass his craft on to the next generation of tradespeople.

Carmen is survived by his beloved wife, Edna, with whom he shared nearly 67 years of love and partnership, weathering life’s many challenges and celebrating its many joys. He is survived by his three daughters: Diana (John Piët), Vanessa (Tim Jamer), and Cecelia (Gerry Hannochko); his grandchildren, Laura (Anish), Katherine (Nik), Benjamin (Sidney), Johanna, and Thomas Piët; and great-grandchildren, Soren and Remy Patel; sister-in-law Jean Ann Fantin, nephew Richard and niece Laurel (Allen). He is further survived by great-nieces and many cousins and family in Italy, Argentina, Australia, Canada, and the United States.

Carmen was proudly Italian and carried that heritage with him throughout his life. He made wine, planted his garden, loved cooking for family, fished and hunted, passing down traditions and recipes that will live on within his family. He enjoyed travelling, taking photos and videos, taking long, adventurous drives, camping, and taking risks. Sunday afternoons were often spent watching football with Edna, a tradition they enjoyed together for many years. Those who knew him will remember his gift for storytelling and sharing jokes. He loved to offer advice to his children and grandchildren, always hoping for the best for each of them.

Few people leave behind so many things that we can touch and see. Carmen did. His work contributed to places where people live, work, and gather. It will stand for generations as a testament to his hard work and a lasting contribution to the communities he helped build.

The family extends its sincere gratitude to the exceptional caregivers at Care & Company, whose compassion, kindness, and dedicated support allowed Carmen to remain at home with dignity. We are especially grateful to Yolanda Badayos, Reena Edeen, and Kani for the genuine care, warmth, and friendship they showed him each day. Their presence brought comfort not only to Carmen but to our entire family.

May he rest in eternal peace, reunited with his parents, family, and friends who have gone before him, and may perpetual light shine upon him.

A Funeral Mass will be held at St. Joseph the Worker Roman Catholic Parish, 753 Burnside Road West, Victoria, BC V8Z 1M9 on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. For those unable to attend in person, the Funeral Mass will be livestreamed here: https://youtube.com/live/gFsSNngfYoQ?feature=share

Interment will follow at Hatley Memorial Gardens, 2050 Sooke Road, Victoria, BC V9B 1W3, where Carmen will be laid to rest, in accordance with his wishes.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Carmen’s memory may be made to the Victoria Hospitals Foundation’s “It’s Time” Campaign, in gratitude for the compassionate care provided by the staff, especially Dr. Scott at Victoria General Hospital.

We invite you to celebrate his life by taking a moment to appreciate the enduring beauty of the places he helped build. Above all, remember him by taking pride in a job well done, lending a helping hand, and sharing a meal with family and friends.

Condolences may be offered to the family below.

McCall Gardens
www.mccallgardens

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