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Settimio “Sam” Bellettini

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Settimio
Mr. Settimio “Sam” Bellettini, age 97 years, passed away peacefully at his home on December 29, 2017.

Sam was born in Fellicarollo, in the province of Modena, in Northern Italy. He was the youngest of five children, three brothers and one sister; Armando, Antonio, Carlo and Edvige. 

He was called to the army at the age of nineteen, serving with the Italian Armed Forces for six years fighting in Russia through horrible conditions during WWII. He was a prisoner of war in Germany, eating potatoes that he dug up, sneaking out from the camp to get them.

In 1947 he married Yolanda Giambi. Shortly after, he travelled to Argentina to check out prospects there. Soon after, his daughter Rita was born in Italy. Ultimately the family decided to move to France in 1953, where he worked in mining. In 1957, the family emigrated to Canada, through the Port of Quebec. Jobs were abundant in forestry, so that led him to the city of Port Arthur, quickly landing a job with Abitibi. The family home was bought on College Street where he has lived all of his life. His second daughter Daniela, was born in Port Arthur, completing the family. We often complained, always asking when it got really cold “why did you pick here to live?”.

He later worked for Great West Timber, retiring at the age of sixty. Once retired, he couldn’t sit still, and so he became a prospector, mining for Amethyst. He mined some beautiful pieces of which he admired, giving pieces away as gifts. It was also at this time that he started travelling to Cuba, making friends and enjoying the sun.

His daughters Rita and Daniela accompanied him to Cuba for the last time in 2010. He then started to play bocce at Boulevard Lake with his friends on Sunday afternoons.

He lived a long and good life.

Sam is survived by his daughters Rita Smith (Brian), Daniela Heerema (Peter), granddaughter Shelley Heerema (Donald), grandson Derek Smith (Lisa), great granddaughter Serena Heerema, and great grandson Jakob Heerema, as well as relatives and friends in Italy.

A Celebration of Sam’s Life will be held on Saturday, January 6, 2018 from 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. at Harbourview Funeral Centre.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation or Thunder Bay Animal Services.

Buona Notte Papa



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