Val Demeo a well known resident of Thunder Bay but a larger than life husband,father grandfather and great grandfather recently retired from Real Estate and life on Friday July 17th 2015.
As a young man Dad worked for Pepsi-Cola and in 1957 he decided to start a new career with Wilport Realty and became a Real Estate Agent.
In 1970 he along with Guido Tocheri and Ed Welch started a new company called Midwest Realty. Midwest became very popular with hosting the annual curling bonspiels. McDonald’s Restaurant at the time provided food and beverage and for the next 20 years it became a celebrated event that many enjoyed throughout the years; Midwest was also a proud sponsor of the Bantam Beaver’s Hockey organization.
Dad grew up in the East End on McTavish Street where the homestead home was and family was everywhere. Everybody knew everyone!
His grandparents owned a farm on the corner of Mapleward Rd and he told us how much he loved to go to there. Dad had a pony and would bring it back to the East End where he would charge anyone who wanted a ride. This was the beginning of his salesmanship.
Dad’s pride and joy was buying the family camp on Cloud Lake, Mom and Dad shared many wonderful and happy times with us there, it was twenty-five years of memories with friends and family.
The time came to travel and off to Arizona they went. Spent at least 10 years going south. They loved visiting and traveling by car each year. Sometimes they would be adventurous and take a different route, usually the one that took longer to get there... you see our father had no sense of direction. If his co-pilot (Irma) was having an off day reading the maps then the day would not go well, words were shared and conversation was limited, especially when it happened in Chicago, but once they arrived and met up with their friends the ride was forgotten and the holidays began.
The stories that Dad shared with us should have been published. He was an excellent
storyteller. He captivated an audience easily. In recent conversations we heard stories that had never been told before. There was the time it started raining when he was barbecuing so to get out of the rain he decided it would be a great idea to bring the BBQ inside the house...well needless to say it did not have a happy ending; or the one Christmas our mother bought him an electric guitar with amp and all, my father really didn’t want it so he asked her to return it and get her money back, as the story goes the stricken look on her face told us everything, and he knew something was wrong. She bought the guitar at a yard sale, there was no return policy.
Our dad helped to plan and organize the boys annual fishing derby. We were never sure how much he really fished, but we did know how much he loved a good party so much so that he would wake up in the morning with no voice and always blaming it on the ice cubes in his drink.
He loved 10 pin bowling and was part of the Galaxy family for years. These were the times in his life where his brother and nephews teamed up for some good laughs.
He had a very close relationship with his brother (Alex) and sisters (Mary,Louise,and Adeline), They were always together for any occasion, and he knew they were only a phone call away. Dad also had a special bond with all his nephews, Terry, Gary, Randy, Allan, Ray, Roddy, Alex, Doug, Mark, Richard and Michael and their families. He also held a special place for his niece Donna (Fairfax) Sutton. They were as much his friends as they were his family.
Family and home was the heart and soul of our father. A weekend never went by without the house being filled. Many New Year’s Eve celebrations were hosted. There were birthdays, weddings, showers and any other excuse to hold a family gathering.
Home was where his heart was and that was especially true at Christmas. He loved Christmas so much that starting in March we all had to make a list because Dad and Mom where going to Duluth, and just in case they find a good deal, they needed to know our wants and needs. We all rolled our eyes at the thought, but each and everyone of us young and old, couldn’t wait to see what was under the tree every year!
Music was in Dad’s soul, he played many instruments but the guitar was his best friend. It was always on his lap or near by. We won’t lie when saying he may have only played five songs, but those five songs were the best!
Dad was so proud of us that every gathering he would wake us up around 3am to play and sing 5’2, Spanish Eyes, and Just Because. We never complained or said no, it was just how it was done!
When the grandchildren became part of our little band, we added the spoons and bongo
drums, and a beautiful voice as well and anything else that made noise, there wasn’t one of us that didn’t play something.
Two years ago when Papa became a “Great Papa” to Georgia, the guitar came out more often. As a new born baby she listened to him play and sing “You are my Sunshine.” She listened and stared with awe not fully understanding what she was learning. As she grew she would bring him the guitar to play for her and start to sing the words with him. Unfortunately Eden didn’t get the chance to hear him play or sing but he has passed on the voice to Georgia who will now sing Papa’s “Sunshine song.”
Mom was Dad's lifeline. She was indeed his best friend and soul mate. Our mother was his plumber, electrician, carpenter and just his overall handy woman. Dad never remembered where he put anything, she had to always find his sunglasses, cell phone and appointment book. Together they did everything, you rarely saw one without the other... unless of course he found his way to the Da Vinci Center without her.
Papa adored all his wonderful grandchildren. They were his everything! Danny (Amy) and Kailtyn (Ian) McCart, Amanda (Casey) and Jake (Amanda) Demeo, Samantha, Brett and Brodie Biasiol and two beautiful great granddaughters Georgia and Eden McCart.
Papa was not only Papa to his grandchildren but to all their friends as well. Everyone they knew called him Papa. He was a mentor, advisor, chauffeur but more than anything else their friend. He attended all their dance recitals, hockey games, soccer, track and field and singing competitions. Not a day would go by where one of these grandkids didn’t make a pit stop just to say hello. They loved him and respected what he said. They enjoyed every minute they had with him. He was their greatest gift, and as the family is now growing his legacy will live on through our children’s children. He has taught us the value of family and Sunday dinners.
Our father was a hard worker and dedicated family man. He was like no other, he was our rock. He gave his family the best life! He supplied us with everything we needed. He was a wonderful husband, and the best dad and Papa ever!
Dad has finally met up with his mother and father Santa and Alex Demeo, sisters Mary (Mitch) Bemben, Louise (Pete) Scavarelli, baby sister Laura and Eric Raslack. The in-laws Marion and Gordon, Danny and Donny Fairfax, plus numerous family and friends. There is one big party going on up there and we know the singing and dancing continues forever.
Because of Papa we will always be a family
Because of Papa we will always work hard
Because of Papa we will always sing and dance
Because of Papa we will always live each day
and
Because of Papa we will never ever forget!
Donations can be made to a charity of your choice. A graveside interment will be announced at a later date.
Love from the Demeo family
Irma, Dana (Will), Darrell (Rosemary), and Tammy (Paul)
Salute!
Valentino Demeo will be remembered in the Blake Funeral Chapel Memorial Grove. Annual dedication service Sunday, June 12, 2016.
