Anna Massari

Life Story:

Anna Massari ( Labriola) passed away peacefully at Humber River Hospital on Sunday May 6th in her 95th year. Beloved wife of the late Pietro Massari, daughter of Michele and Teresa Labriola. Dear Mother of Tony Massari ( Carmela), and Frank Massari ( Regula). Dear sister of Angelina Muscio (Michele). Predeceased by her son Michael Massari ( Renata), sisters Antonieta, Gelsomina, Maria Saveria, brothers Attilio, Rocco and daughter Arcangela. Lovingly remembered by grand children Stephanie ( Tom), Peter (Joanne), Casey, Anna (Steve), Jesse (Mike), Peter ( Karoline), Nikki and great grandchildren Erica, Nicholas, Mateo and Olivia.

John 14:1 – 31
“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going.”

Anna was born in December of 1923 in a small Italian town called Pietragalla, in the province of Potenza, and Pietro was born in February of 1922 in Gravina, Puglia. Pietro’s best friend, who later became his brother-in-law, was working in Pietragalla and made the match which lasted 58 years until the death of Pietro on January 16, 2012.
Always striving to carve out a better life for their family, Anna and Pietro Massari arrived in Halifax at Pier 21 on December 13th, 1953 with their two children Antonio and Michael. December 1st, would have been a typically beautiful day as they departed the Port of Naples. The boat named Homeland set off in the blue waters of the Gulf of Sorrento, in view of the Amalfi Coast past the Isle of Capri. Waving goodbye to their birthland, and all they ever knew, they set off to the future, a land completely unknown. New language, new surroundings, new lands, with no security of the many friends and family left behind. The journey proved to be quite challenging as a rash, which had developed on the youngest son, Michael, who was 2 years of age, forced mother and son to be quarantined for the duration of the voyage. Pietro, who experience extreme motion sickness for the whole voyage, was responsible to look after the oldest son, Tony, 4 years of age.
On December 13th, 1953, sponsored by Anna’s brother, they entered Halifax and the land of plenty, before moving on by train to Oshawa. Now eight days after her 30th birthday, together with Pietro and their two sons, they were received by brutally cold weather with piercing winds and vast amounts of snow, never seen before. “No need to bring anything, we have it all here in Canada”, but the lack of money to buy all that was needed, turned out to be a rather large irony. Through tremendous work ethics and perseverance, second to none, they began to carve out an existence for their young family which welcomed one addition, Frank, in 1955.
Pietro and Anna were always ready and willing to help others. A few years later, they sponsored Anna’s sister Antonietta and her four children. Together, in 1962, they all moved to Toronto. Here they, at times, lived together, all worked so that the families grew and prospered. Hard work and perseverance meant steady work, ability to own a house, cottage property, proper medical care and an education for the three boys, always for the three boys.
As more “paesani” came to Canada, a renewed security for the family was enjoyed by all. Gathering of paesani friends and family meant picnics in Niagara Falls, Welland and Oakville. Then came wave after wave of weddings ensuring there was always an opportunity to enjoy the family.
Anna loved the Lord. Her trust and faith in the Lord never wavered. Her life and death was according to the will of God. All her life, Anna loved her family, her friends, and her plants of red roses around the house.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-14
13 “Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. 14 For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.”

John 16:22
“Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.”
Until we meet again, you remain in our hearts and in our prayers. We can carry on knowing that in this life, we were loved by you. When we see a beautiful red rose, we will think of you.
Anna will be fondly remembered by all who were privileged to know her.
A special thank you to the staff of the 12th floor, Humber River Hospital.
Visitation. Ward Funeral Home, 4671 Highway 7, Vaughan, Ontario 905-851-9100. Wednesday May 9th 2-4 PM and 6-9 PM.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held at All Saints Roman Catholic Church, 1415 Royal York Rd., Etobicoke, Ontario, M9P 3A7. Entombment to follow at Glendale Cemetery 1810 Albion Rd, Etobicoke, M9W 5T1