Veneziale: With hearts full of love and bellies full of fagioli, we celebrate the remarkable life of Nonna Emilia Veneziale, who passed away peacefully at the age of 93 on March 23, 2025.
Born Dec. 19, 1931 in Cantalupo Nel Sannio, a small village in Italy, Emilia was the eldest of 5 children. From a young age, she helped grow and prepare food for her family and raised her younger siblings. When war came to her country, her family fled and survived by hiding in the forest and foraging for food. Years later, she met her husband, Michele, while in Isernia. He shared her love of gardening, and they married 9 months later. Their first child, Cosmo, was born there.
They emigrated to Thunder Bay with young Cosmo, and later welcomed their daughter, Maria. Being an immigrant wasn’t easy, and they worked long hours to provide for their family in their new country. Nonna was a seamstress, and once retired, worked alongside her sister Irma at the bridal boutique.
Nonna lived for one thing and one thing only- family. She took great pride in her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and nieces and nephews. We never needed to spend a penny on babysitters, and she was never happier than when we were all gathered around the dinner table together.
Nonna was the most energetic woman you would ever meet. She could make a meal for a dozen people on 15 minutes notice from the contents of her legendary deep freeze. She could outperform anyone when blueberry picking, pull the biggest fish from the lake, and against all odds, grew lemons in Thunder Bay. Nonna’s experiences in the war shaped her sense of conservation, and so nothing was ever wasted on Cameron Street. Every milk carton became a seedling starter, every loose string kept to tie off branches trimmed from the trees, and every item of clothing mended, dyed, and repurposed. Her basement cantina was always bursting with jars of sauce and vegetables.
It was only once she turned 90 that she started to ‘slow down’, in her words, as she was ‘only’ able to work 8 hours a day in her prolific garden before needing to rest. Until a few weeks ago, she was still living independently, driving, cooking, and doing her own laundry.
Survived by her daughter, Maria (Bruno) D’Angelo, daughter-in-law Katie Veneziale, grandchildren Kevin (Patricia) Sweryd, Kristen (Lucas) Veneziale, Kimberly (Cory) Veneziale, Michael (Loredana) Veneziale, Donato (Haley) D’Angelo, and Adrian (Nissa) D’Angelo, great-grandchildren Adam, Erin, Julia (Mitch), Alandra (Bella), Nicolas, Corbin, Xander, and Caelyn, and great-great grandson Noah. Nonna was predeceased by her beloved son, Cosmo, her husband Michele, siblings Irma Ricci and Enzo D’Angelo, brothers-in-law Felice Mancini and Sergio Ricci, and parents Gioina and Francesco D’Angelo.
The family would like to thank the team at St. Joseph’s Care Group, and also Nurse Jeff, Nonna’s angel. You gave her such comfort in her last weeks and we are forever grateful for your care. Visitation will be held Wednesday, March 26th at 10:30 AM, followed by a Funeral Mass at 11:00 AM at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church. In lieu of flowers, donations to Roots to Harvest, Urban Abbey, or Friends of the Thunder Bay Conservatory are appreciated.
The world has a little less flavour without you in it, Nonna. We will miss you forever and carry all the knowledge that you have taught us into our homes, gardens, and kitchens.
On-line Condolences may be sent to www.blakefuneralchapel.com
