Concetta Augruso

On Christmas Eve, Concetta Augruso joined her husband, Ernesto, in Heaven. Concetta, age 83, passed away peacefully after sharing Christmas Eve dinner with her close family.

Born in Curinga on November 27, 1937, Concetta immigrated to Port Arthur in 1960 with Ernesto and her infant son, Salvatore. Shortly after, she gave birth to her sons Pietro and Franco. Although she always remained close to her Italian roots and family, she was deeply proud of her new home in Canada and the life that they would build for the family in Thunder Bay. Concetta built a loving nest for her growing family and friends. Her home was a gathering place; all were welcomed with a smile, a big plate of pasta and fresh fruit and vegetables from her garden.

Concetta was a true matriarch who took no greater joy from life than the time spent caring for her family. Whether one knew her as “Concetta”, Comare, Tita, Nonna or simply, Mom, all who knew her saw an independent, strong, hardworking and independent woman with a generous heart.

After the passing of Ernesto in 2000, Concetta became even more strong willed and committed to providing for others and instilling countless life lessons onto her family. Her devotion to her family and friends and traditions remained strong.

Concetta’s warm and caring nature stretched well beyond her home and she is loved and remembered by the countless others who knew her, including those with whom she spent time with at the Italian Ladies of Port Arthur Society, the Catholic Women’s League and the Senior Women’s Club of St. Anthony’s Parish. After her children left home, Concetta was employed in the mailroom of the Chronicle Journal for 19 years and was affectionately known as “Mom” by her colleagues because of her caring and loving ways. She regularly volunteered her time to St. Anthony’s Parish and the Italian Hall.

Concetta will be remembered for always showing tremendous empathy to anyone that she met experiencing difficult times. It was extremely important to her to make regular food donations to local shelters. In one example of generosity, while on a family vacation in Cuba, Concetta gave away most of her own clothes from her suitcase one morning to a local woman that she met while walking on the beach.

Concetta will be dearly missed and lovingly remembered by her sons, Sal (Elaine), Peter (Marlene) and Frank (Therese); her brother, Antonio Masdea, brother-in-law, Vittorio Augruso, sisters-in-law, Nella Masdea, Lina Masdea, Angelina Augruso and Giovanna Augruso; her grandchildren, Jordan (Josh), Quinn, Zane, Alanna (Shawn), Adam (Laurel), Dylan (Cassidy) and Evan; and her most recent source of joy, her great grandchildren, Oliver and Abigail. She is deeply missed by numerous nieces, nephews and other relatives across Canada and Italy on whom she made a lasting impact.

Concetta was pre-deceased by her husband, Ernesto, her parents, Pietro Masdea and Elizabetta Masdea (Rondinelli), and her brothers, Franco and Vincenzo Masdea, as well as her brother in-law Sebastiano Augruso and her nephew, Paul Augruso, each of whom she will re-unite with in Heaven.

Although the Augruso family has lost its matriarch, her traditions and lessons will live on through all of the generations of family that she touched here on earth. Her zest for life and the imprint she left on our hearts will remain in our memories forever.

With the anticipated conclusion of the COVID-19 lockdown and the ability to once again have attendance of 30% capacity, the funeral services to celebrate the life of Concetta Augruso will be held on Monday, January 11, 2021 when family and friends will gather in St. Anthony’s R.C. Church for the Funeral Mass beginning at 11:00 a.m. celebrated by Rev. Luigi Filippini. Those wishing to attend the Mass must register on Concetta’s page at www.sargentandson.com. There will be visitation in the church for 1 hour prior for those not attending the Mass. The interment will follow in St. Andrew’s Cemetery. Those wishing to watch the livestream of the Mass may do so on the Sargent & Son Facebook page. A private family visitation will be held on Wednesday, December 30, 2020. As expressions of sympathy memorials to the TBRHS Foundation-Our Hearts at Home Cardiovascular Surgery campaign would be greatly appreciated. On-line condolences may be made at www.sargenandson.com.

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