Martino Bellio

Our hearts are breaking open with love, gratitude and sorrow for our beautiful husband and father. Nino died peacefully with his loving wife of 63 years by his side, after spending time alone with each of his daughters.

He will always be beloved by Angelina, his wife, his daughters Myrna, Lorena and Linda, his sons-in-law John D’Aloisio and Domenic Sicilia, and his grandchildren Justin, Amanda, Michael and Andrew. He was the proud great-grandfather of Sienna (Justin and Melissa). He will be missed by his extended family and friends for the size of his heart and his laser wit, especially by his siblings Giuseppe, Marisa, Elia and Ruggero, as he goes to meet again with the family that predeceased him, including his sister Teresina and his brother Sergio.

Born in Paese, Treviso in 1933, Nino was a man of few words whose actions spoke for him. He worked hard all his life to provide for the family he loved so much and who made him so proud. We respect and honour him for teaching us through his actions the value of family, faith, love, commitment and sacrifice.

As a younger man Nino's personal passions reflected that "to everything there is a season." Every spring and summer you would find him, big and broad and bronzed, tending to his prized vegetable garden and immaculate lawn. Every fall he would refine the secret formula to his homemade wine. And every winter the zii and the boys would head on over to Nino's to make the choicest salami, old school. He was always happy to share the bounty of the seasons with whoever dropped by.

In his later years Nino became our gentle giant, with the will of a beast. He fought back from the brink again and again after many heart- and respiratory-related illnesses. But our gentle giant grew tired, and he needed to rest. During yet another ferocious struggle, tired as he was, he held on long enough for his daughters to say good-bye. And then he died peacefully, with Angelina by his side. He was determined to share with us his final moments of grace.

Thank you, amore. Thank you, Daddy. Thank you, Nonno. We will love, honour and respect you for the rest of our lives in everything we do. Just like you did.

A private family service will take place and a funeral mass will be held at a later date, to which all family and friends will be invited. Please make any donations in honour of Nino’s memory to The Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada.