MRS. MARIA (MARY) CARUSO, beloved wife of the late Mr. Joseph Caruso of Lethbridge, passed away peacefully, surrounded by her family, at the Chinook Regional Hospital on Sunday June 6, 2010 at the age of 79 years.
She is the loving mother of; Phyllis (Bill) Pastoor of Lethbridge, Dee (Rick) Hebert of Lethbridge, Rick (Carlina) Caruso of Picture Butte, Tom (Edna-Marie) Caruso of Diamond City, Irene (John) Doucette of Lethbridge, Dan (Dora) Caruso of Vauxhall, David (Joanne) Caruso of Lethbridge, Cathy (Scott) Maxwell of Lethbridge and Connie (Jeff) Shewchuk of High River. Mary is survived by 24 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren as well as her sisters and brothers; Rosina (Nick) Mucciaroni of Lethbridge, Luigi (Bev) Dagnone of Wrentham, Delores (Philip) Gurr of Picture Butte, Amelia (Ken ) Rollag of Lethbridge and Tony (Laurie) Dagnone of Skiff.
She was predeceased by Dominic Dagnone, Nick Dagnone and Joe Dagnone.
Mary was born in Civitanova del Sannio, Italy on October 4, 1930, the eldest of nine children of Giovanni and Filomena Dagnone.
Her life in Italy began at the start of the great depression. Times were tough with very little money, and lots of work. Much of her time was spent tending to the sheep and other animals with her dad. She also helped raise her siblings.
In 1948 at the tender age of 17 Mary, along with her family, immigrated to Canada. Within months of arriving in Canada she married Joe. Their honeymoon home was the Manyberries CPR shack. At the start of their marriage it was a concern that no children were being conceived. This proved to be of little concern as nine children arrived at 2-year intervals from then on.
After a short stint with the CPR, Dad and Mom purchased the family farm (one mile north of Iron Springs) and later built their dream home in Iron Springs. At retirement they moved to Lethbridge.
Wherever Mom lived she took with her a great love for her family, food, and gardening. Mom was always looking for people who needed a freshly baked loaf of bread, cookies for the neighboring children, sacks of potatoes, lettuce, tomatoes, etc., for anybody she came in contact with. Mom had the ability to pull off the loaves and fishes miracle on a regular basis with virtually no notice. Never was a lack of food in question. The biggest mistake anyone could make when coming over to Mom’s was not eating enough. That would not be tolerated.
Mom’s commitment to her husband, children and grandchildren was her life. We are the ones she lived for. All of Mom’s life decisions were made through the prism of her faith in God, and the Bible.
We love you, and miss you Mom.
A Prayer Service will be held at CORNERSTONE FUNERAL HOME, 2800 Mayor Magrath Drive South, Lethbridge, AB on Wednesday, June 9, 2010 at 6:30 P.M.
A Funeral Service will be held at PARK MEADOWS BAPTIST CHURCH, 2011 - 15th Avenue North, Lethbridge, AB on Thursday, June 10, 2010 at 1:30 P.M. with Pastor Barry Seifert officiating.
In memory of Maria, donations may be made to Park Meadows Baptist Church - Mission work for Mexico, 2011 - 15th Avenue North, Lethbridge, AB, T1H 5J4
Honoured to serve the family, CORNERSTONE FUNERAL HOME AND CREMATORIUM, 2800 Mayor Magrath Drive South, Lethbridge, Alberta T1K 7B1. Telephone (403) 381-7777. E-mail: care@cornerstonefh.ca
