Fernanda Pellegrini

Fernanda Pellegrini (née Angeli) was born on September 15, 1938, in the beautiful northern mountain town of Cloz, Italy. While her childhood was marked by tragedy and hardship, she lived out the rest of her life defining strength and resilience.

In 1945, when Fernanda was 6, her father, Giuseppe, tragically passed away. In 1956, her mother, Erminia, passed as well, leaving Fernanda and her beloved brother, Edorardo, orphans by the ages of 17 and 15. Fernanda and Edorardo cared for each other over the next 70 years, bonded together forever by their loss.

In 1955, a year before her mother died, Fernanda met a charming and handsome teenage boy at a nearby theatre. His name was Tullio Pellegrini. Tullio lived across the valley in Dambel, the rival town of Fernanda’s hometown of Cloz. In 1959, in search of a better life and a fresh start, Fernanda immigrated to Toronto, Canada, joining Tullio who had relocated the prior year. They married that year.

Fernanda and Tullio were both hard workers. She took pride in having earned everything she had. During her life in Canada, she worked as an office cleaner and at a factory that made picture frames. Her most fulfilling role was as a mother and grandmother, raising her sons, Joseph and Walter, and helping to raise her four grandkids.

Fernanda was a gifted cook. Some of her signature dishes were lasagna, minestrone, polenta with spezzatino, canederli, and apple strudel.

She loved to sing, she loved flowers, and she loved to laugh.

Above all, she loved to cheer for, watch, and talk about the Toronto Maple Leafs. She looked forward to watching the Leafs play right up until her final days, hoping she would see them win another Stanley Cup.

Fernanda was 86. She is survived by her sons, Joseph (Josie) and Walter (Franca), and her four grandchildren, Christina, Sandro, Michael and Vanessa.

She will be missed.

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