Mario Antonio Corrado

Mario Antonio Corrado
August 11, 1927 – July 23, 2023 

 

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our beloved Mario Antonio Corrado on July 23, 2023, 3 weeks shy of his 96th birthday, while being cared for by his family and the wonderful staff at Cortellucci Hospital in Vaughan, Ontario. 

Mario has gone to join his parents, Carmine and Chiarina, his sister Iolanda, and his brother Luigi, in the Heavenly Kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ. He leaves behind his devoted wife of 67 years, Rosa, his children Rina, Franca, Jennifer and Carmine (Julie), and his youngest sister Maria. He was a devoted grandfather to Stephanie (Joe), Anthony (Marina), Genevieve (John), Cristina (Jonathan), Olivia (Ben), Sabrina, Camilla and Mario and great-grandfather to Eliseo and Evelina. 

Mario was born August 11, 1927, in Fossato Serralta, Italy where he made his living as a basket maker. He immigrated, along with his younger brother Luigi to Canada in 1958 to make a better life for himself and his family. While staying with his sister Iolanda and her husband Anselmo, he quickly learned that job opportunities for basket weavers was next to none. 

A year later, Mario was reunited with his wife Rosa, and daughter Rina. The first couple of years, he was hard-pressed to find work but soon after he quickly learned the carpentry trade. He worked tirelessly to earn enough money to finally buy his first home in Toronto as his family grew to 4 children. 

Mario was a proud and honourable man who devoted his life to ensuring his family did not have to endure hardship as he had in wartime Italy. He worked relentlessly to ensure his family would want for nothing in Canada.

Mario found his greatest joy in his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. To those who know him as “Nonno Mario”, he was the kindest, gentlest and most loving human being in the world. His face would light up every time he saw them, and nothing gave him more pleasure than to see them all together at family gatherings playing, laughing, and just being happy.

To his nieces and nephews, “Zio Mario” was the joker of the family. The clown who made everybody laugh and who loved them as if they were his own children.

Mario enjoyed watching TV in his leisure time, such as: soccer, wrestling or his favourite hockey team, the Montreal Canadiens. He always took pleasure in spending time playing cards with family. In his final days, even though most of his memory had deteriorated, he could still lay down a beating playing Briscola and Scopa even up to the day before his passing. 

Mario was loved and respected by all. He lived a life of devotion to his family and will be missed by all who knew and loved him. He fought the good fight and finished the race and has now gone to rest in the arms of Almighty God.

Memorial donations made to the Canadian Cancer Society or Alzheimer Society of Canada would be greatly appreciated by the family.