It is with great sadness and an underlying sense of relief that we acknowledge the loss of our dear mother, Chiara Sparanese, on Wednesday, October 14, at Saanich Peninsula Long Term Care Facility at the age of 87.
Our mom passed away peacefully of natural causes and was surrounded by her three sons and their wives, Carmine (Dorothy), Pietro “Peter” (Dorothy), and David (Alanna) at the time of her death.
Chiara was predeceased by her husband of 50 years, Ruggiero “Roger” Sparanese, and on her side of the family by her mother and father, Maria and Pietro Miele, and brothers and sisters, Barbato Miele, Antonio Miele, Anielo Miele, Filomena Chilelli, Yolanda Caria and her brothers- in-law Giovanni Deluca, Antonio Caria and Renato Bianchi.
She leaves to mourn for her, three sons and their wives (mentioned above), her four grandchildren, Keegan, Kyle, Chiara and Ruggiero, her sister Anna Deluca in Victoria, her sister and brother in Winnipeg, Giuseppina “Josie” Bianchi and Saverio “Sammy” Miele as well as her brothers/sisters-in-law in Victoria, Barbato (Rosa) Sparanese and Amerigo (Barbara) Sparanese. She also leaves behind many nieces and nephews in Victoria, Vancouver, Edmonton, Winnipeg and in Italy.
Chiara was born in the small town of Cicciano, Italy, just outside of Naples, on January 11, 1939, and grew up surrounded by a large family consisting of her mother and father and four brothers and five sisters. She trained as a seamstress, a skill she carried with her throughout her life.
At the tender age of 20 she was courted by a young man from her hometown whom she had only met a handful of times and received a written request for marriage to join him in Canada. Leaving her family and friends behind, she made the brave and courageous decision to embark on a challenging transatlantic journey on the SS Conte Biancamano to meet and marry this man who would become the love of her life and our father, Roger.
They built an amazing life together in Winnipeg and raised three sons and owned and operated a small Italian variety store called, “Naples Variety Shop.” After about twenty-five years in business, they packed up and made their final move to the west coast in 1988 and settled in Victoria where they lived the rest of their lives surrounded by family who had also made the move to the island in search of a milder mediterranean climate and to pursue “La Dolce Vita.”
Lovingly know as Nonna, she was adored by her grandkids as her family was everything to her. The warmth and love that emanated from her was felt by all she met. She was angelic, selfless, supportive and took great pleasure in cooking and hosting traditional family gatherings…the joy she felt from these moments were evident in her radiant smile and loving ways. Chiara lovingly devoted her life to her husband, children and grandchildren unconditionally.
Besides adoring her family, our mother loved her garden. She would spend countless hours tending and caring for it. Her garden was a real labour of love and became a refuge in her later years.
The void she leaves in our lives is immeasurable, but our memories of her will help fill that void and our love for her will continue for the rest of our lives.
No flowers or donations are required.
Condolences may be offered to the family below.
McCall Gardens
www.mccallgardens.com
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