Raffaele Mauro

On July 13, 2017, while his wife held his hand and his children surrounded him, Raffaele ‘Ralph’ Mauro, age 84, went peacefully from this life.

While his illness was brief and unexpected, his life was long, and its joyful accomplishments a result of unfaltering hard work. Born in Grimaldi, Cosenza on October 28, 1932, Ralph came to Canada at the age of 18 to join his older brother, Vincenzo, in employment with the R.F. Welch Company. He spent 5 years dynamiting rock and building railways in Northern Ontario before meeting his beloved future wife, Rita Filice, in 1956.

They settled among a large community of friends and extended family in Port Arthur and had three children, Pasquale, Frank and Nancy.

It’s a testament to the power of family that Ralph, his brother Vincenzo, their younger sister, Irma Buffone, and their mother, Cristina Milinazzo Mauro, were reunited in Port Arthur and went on to build their homes in the same neighborhood. Here, they raised their children to know their roots, culture and the language of the land their parents had left behind. 

Though the hardships of the old world faded, its delights did not. Each spring, Ralph planted the magnificent backyard garden he remembered from childhood, and he was known throughout Thunder Bay for his scale-tipping tomatoes. Each winter, Ralph and Rita organized friends and family for an annual pilgrimage to Acapulco. They escaped the coldest of the Canadian months for a warmth that reminded them of the Mediterranean sun. 

For many years Ralph was co-owner of Bennett’s Bakery with his brother Vincenzo and their cousin, Mario Nucci. He then went on to work with Klomp Wakefield Dairy until his retirement in 1995. Ralph was a devoted member of the Italian Cultural Society since 1954 and served on its executive board for decades. He happily spent his free time volunteering at the Cultural Centre and became there a magnet of the community. His absence will be deeply felt by members and staff.

Ralph’s greatest joy, of course, was his family. He will be terribly missed by his son Pasquale and daughter-in-law Sylvianne; their daughters Alexandra and Victoria; by his son Frank and daughter-in-law Mara and her daughter, Lauren; by his daughter Nancy and son-in-law Joshua and their daughter, Lola. His beloved wife Rita will grieve his passing most of all. This coming December they would have celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary.

In Italia, Ralph was predeceased by his father Fortunato (1940), his brothers Ercolino (1937) and Pasquale (1940), and by his sister Olmanda (1949). In Canada, Ralph was forced to say goodbye to his cherished mother Cristina (1985), to his dear brother Vincenzo (1991) and to his beloved sister Irma (2004). And though they were once lost to him, there is sweet hope in knowing that he has gone forward to join them once again.

A funeral service to commemorate Ralph’s life will be held on Tuesday, July 18th at St. Anthony’s R.C. Church. The Mass, beginning at 11 a.m., will be celebrated by Rev. Luigi Filippini. Visitation will be held on Monday from 5-7 p.m. As expressions of sympathy, memorials to the Northern Cancer Fund or the Northern Cardiac Fund of the Thunder Bay Regional Health Science Centre would be greatly appreciated. Online condolences may be made at www.sargentandson.com.