It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Domenica Bava. She left us quickly and quietly Sunday January 18th with family by her side.
Wife of 64 years to Gregorio, mother to Rose (Enzo), Cathy (Neil), Frank and Cosimo. Grandmother to Sabrina (David), Lisa & Daniel (Kelly). Great grandmother to Anistasia, Miguel, Matteo, Mason & Dante. She was a sister, an aunt and a friend to all that she knew both in Canada and Italy. She was predeceased by her parents and her brother in Italy.
In 1954 Domenica courageously made the trans-Atlantic journey from her home in Brognaturo, Calabria Italy to Port Arthur with a 3 year old in tow to meet her husband in Port Arthur, Ontario. After raising her four children, she went to work outside of the home. For many years she worked sewing at Hinsberger’s – a tent factory. Never in her lifetime did she shy away from hard work.
When her sister-in-law fell ill, she took over the operation of Jumbo Gardens Confectionary. Here she was Mama Bava to all the kids that came in to buy candy. Having conquered retail, Gregorio decided to venture into food services.
Having never been in a restaurant herself, she was tasked with learning to cook food that she had never made before. She worked 14 hour days, seven days a week and never harder than on the first Mother’s Day that the restaurant was open. We were so busy that we ran out of food. After Columbus Pizza that was enough work outside the home.
After building their new home on Piccadilly, Domenica kept her new home filled with family and friends. Cooking and cleaning to the end.
Domenica lived a very full and productive life, and was a source of strength and inspiration to all who knew her and loved her. She will be greatly missed.
Funeral Services for Domenica will be held on Thursday January 22nd, 2015 leaving the Harbourview Funeral Centre at 11:00 AM to go to St. Anthony’s Roman Catholic Church for a Mass at 11:30 AM celebrated by Fr. Luigi Filippini. Visitation for family and friends will be held on Wednesday evening from 6:00 PM until 8:00 PM in the Harbourview Funeral Centre.
