Rosina Zante

Rosina (nee Ginevro) Zante
February 13, 1924 - March 07, 2024

Today with great sadness, we say goodbye to our Mom, Nonna, Great-Gramma, Zia, Sister, and friend, Rosina/Rosa/Rosie Zante. Born in Roseto degli Abruzzo. On one side the beautiful Adriatic Sea and the other Apennine mountains. She was the last surviving sibling of 7 children: Domenica, Alfredo, Amalia, Letterina, Nicola and Gabriele. She is also predeceased by her husband Artibano and her beloved son Valentino.

She saw a lot in her time, innovation, war, peace, hunger,  death of her own son, of her parents, of her siblings. She has seen sadness, and happiness in her long life. She was a survivor.

She was a star pupil. In her late teens she went to Teramo to train as a nurse’s aid at the mental health hospital. She saw the Germans coming up the heel of Italy during their retreat and saw the Americans and Canadians come to their rescue in 1945. She married later in life at 24, because of the war, to our father who “walked” back to Italy after being a prisoner of war in Germany for 4 years. She had her first two sons, and then her husband went to Canada. His first letter to her was ‘don’t pack – I’m coming home in a year”. She replied “don’t come home, there is nothing to come home to”. So in 1952, with a suitcase balanced on her head and two little boys clinging to her skirts, she set sail for Canada. The boys had never been outside of their village or seen a flushing toilet or running water before in their life – let alone a huge ship, but they had momma bear at their back. Our mom was the proudest Canadian I know. She learned the words to the national anthem by heart and always appreciated the opportunities that her new country could offer. She always praised Canada and its people. Three more children were born. During this time they worked hard to bring other family members to her newly adopted country.

She worked usually at more than one job at a time – the vegetable fields in the summer, and as a Nurse’s assistant at Windsor Lodge in Hagersville – a retirement home. At one time I think she had every office/church/hotel cleaning contract in Hagersville and we were expected to be her partners. I think the worst job that my brothers had to help her with was collecting eggs at the chicken farm on Highway 6 – all to help “la familigia”.

She could cook, and was an amazing seamstress – making our clothes, bride’s and bridesmaid dresses, and costumes for the local Dance Company. She could paint, install wallpaper and make drapes. We always had aunts and uncles and cousins from Hamilton, Toronto, Belgium and Italy visiting and staying with us.

She loved to knit and crochet. She once bartered a very detailed knitted “fishing” sweater for new dentures! She was very creative and resourceful. She loved to ride her bike, play bocce and cards. AND at the age of 49 decided to learn how to drive.

She leaves behind a million stories to her loving children Cesare(Dianne), Osvaldo(Darlene), Nunzio (Kathryn), Anita (Jamnes), her beloved grandchildren Timothy (Michele),

David (Colette), Robert (Kathryn), James (Brenda), Michael, Valentino (Rachel) and Rose, her beautiful great-grand children Jesse, Lucas, Ryan, Jacob, Mathew, Spencer, Hayden, Keara, Xavier, Jackson, Lila-Rose, Rowen, Massimo, Leonardo and her great-great-grandson Chase.

She will be remembered by her many nieces and nephews in Canada, Belgium and Italy.

The family would like to thank the staff at Juravanski Hospital and her friends and adopted family at Villa Italia for their care and support.

There will be a visitation on Wednesday March 13 at Hyde & Mott Chapel Hagersville from 2-4 pm and 6-8 pm. A catholic mass will be held on Thursday March 14 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 94 Main St. S., Hagersville at 11:00am.  Internment will be held at the family plot in Caledonia at a later date. The family invites friends to join us at St. Mary’s Catholic Church for refreshments and fellowship.

“We will never forget you, because you were the best of all of us and because you taught us to be good and courageous.”

Rest in peace beautiful mother.

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