Mrs. Maria (Costa) Mollicola, a resident of Thunder Bay, passed away in the hospital on Friday, October 9, 2015, after a courageous battle with cancer.
Her battle with cancer began in November 2012 and she and her family appreciated the kind and loving care she received from the staff at the Thunder Bay Regional Hospital. Her family and friends will sadly miss Maria.
Born on July 2, 1944 in Siderno Marina, Reggio di Calabria, Italy, Maria immigrated to Canada in 1947 at the age of three.
She lived in Thunder Bay and attended local schools in Fort William. She married her soul mate, Salvatore Mollicola on January 21, 1961 and together they raised a beautiful family and celebrated 54 wonderful years together. Maria’s main focus and motivation in life was the fierce love she had for her family and friends.
She was an excellent cook and many will never forget her famous meatballs and pitelli. She was most happy spending time with her family and friends. She was a wonderful storyteller often sharing heart-warming and funny stories making those around her laugh.
Maria’s generosity, kind heart and willingness to help exemplified to others how to love and how to give.
Maria is survived by her husband Salvatore, daughter Lina (Salvatore Papaleo) Monesterace; sons Tom and Marco (Maria De Agazio), Toronto; grandchildren Claudia Minici (Antonio Papandrea), Caulonia, Rocco Minici (Caterina Candido), Monesterace, Roberta Minici (Roberto Portaro), Monesterace, Salvatore, Vanessa, Stefano and Matthew, Toronto; great-grandson Rocco Papandrea, Caulonia; sisters Eda (Bob) Stranges, Rose Track, Teresa (Fred) Hill; brothers Cosmo Costa (Donna), Mario Costa (Karen), Frank Costa(Arva), Vittorio Costa (Suzanne) and Gilbert Costa (Barb); brothers-in-law Giuseppe Minici, Roccella Ionica, Francesco (Maria); sisters-in-law Teresina Lombardo, Giovanna, Torino, Santina, Roccella Ionica, Maria (Francesco Spagnolo), Torino, Marissa Frasca, Roccella Ionica, Emilia (Gino Maiolo), Roccella Ionica, and numerous nieces and nephews in Thunder Bay and Italy.
Maria is pre-deceased by her mother Girolama Gutta, father Vincenzo Costa and brother Tony, Domenic at infancy; mother-in-law Natalina Cavalleri, father-in-law Tomasso, brothers-in-law Carlo Lombardo, Franceso Armocida, Rocco Minici, Vincenzo and sister-in-law Cristina.
Funeral services for Maria will be held on Thursday October 15, 2015, when family and friends will gather for Funeral Mass at 10:00 am, at St. Dominic’s Church celebrated by Rev. Maurizio Maifredi c.s. Interment will follow at St. Andrew’s Cemetery. Visitation for family and friends will be held on Wednesday October 14, 2015 from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm in the Blake Funeral Chapel with prayers at 8:00 pm at St. Dominic’s Church. If friends desire memorials to the Canadian Cancer Society would be appreciated.
Maria Mollicola will be remembered in the Blake Funeral Chapel Memorial Grove. Annual dedication service Sunday, June 12, 2016.
