Raffaele & Rosa Barbieri

Raffaele · October 11, 1921 – February 27, 1981
Rosa · September 9, 1932 – June 13, 2018

Some love stories begin in a small town, and some go on to span continents. Theirs began in Catanzaro, Calabria, Italy, where Raffaele and Rosa first met. Raffaele made the journey to Canada by boat, determined to build a better life. In time, he sent for Rosa, who made the journey to join him, and they were married. Together, they built a home, raised three children, Paul, Salvatore and Palma, and created a family that would always be their greatest accomplishment.

Raffaele was a good man with a generous heart. He put others before himself, worked hard to provide for his family, and loved his wife and children dearly. He also loved people and the simple pleasure of good company. Some of the fondest memories of him are of summer evenings spent outside, under the starlit sky, as neighbours would stop by to share an espresso, a conversation and a little laughter. Raffaele was happiest with people around him. He had a way of making everyone feel welcome. He was taken far too soon, leaving Rosa to raise three children on her own. It wasn’t an easy road, but Rosa met life with courage, determination and a strength that carried her family through. She was loving, generous and had a contagious laugh that could fill a room. If you knew her, you probably remember that laugh.

Raffaele and Rosa are gone now, as is their son Salvatore, who left far too young, at just 46. Their absence is felt in ways that words can’t always capture. But the love they gave, the sacrifices they made and the values they passed down remain part of who their family is.

They are remembered as two people who crossed an ocean to build a life together, never knowing just how many lives their love would touch. They gave their family its roots, and countless memories to carry forward. Those who loved them wish they could sit around the table with them one more time, spend another summer evening under the stars, share an espresso with Raffaele, hear Rosa’s laughter and have everyone together again. Their story lives on through their family, and the love they started in a little town in Calabria will always have a home in the hearts of those who loved them.

in memoriam · franklin mckay