Reverend Angelico Valeriote helped a lot of people during his 67 years as a Roman Catholic priest, leaving friends and family with many fond memories.
“He was the epitome of what a Catholic priest should be,” said nephew Peter Valeriote. “If he isn’t going to heaven then there’s not much hope for the rest of us.”
Reverend Valeriote passed died Thursday at Guelph General Hospital. He was 91.
The funeral mass will be held Monday, March 14 at 11 am at the Basilica of Our Lady.
“He was a man of incredible faith and persistence,” said his nephew Frank Valeriote. “He was like a rudder to our family. He provided spiritual direction to all of us in times of crisis and he offered incredible support, understanding and assurance that things will get better.”
Valeriote served two terms as Liberal MP for Guelph and remembers his uncle being a source for guidance and humility during that time.
“Whenever we took ourselves too serious he brought us right down to earth,” he said. “During my term in politics he would come in from time to time and remind me what the right thing to do was.”
Valeriote, who is a lawyer, said his uncle Angelico was always helping people in need and often called on him to help as well.
“There wasn’t anyone in despair that he wouldn’t lend a hand to and often that help required a lawyer,” said Valeriote. “I can’t tell you how many times I would be sitting in my office and in would come this tall man in a long black trench coat and black fedora. He is the only guy I know that could cast a shadow in front of him and behind him at the same time – like he was the priest from The Exorcist.”
Often the person he was helping was poor with few resources but Rev. Valeriote would do everything he could to help.
“He would persist to the point that if I couldn’t help he would make me find the person that could,” Valeriote said.
“He could make you feel guilty if you didn’t help,” said Rev. Dennis Noon, pastor at the Basilica of Our Lady where Rev. Valeriote lived in residence since his retirement 21 years ago.
“He had a great sense of humour and wasn’t shy about expressing his opinion. He was fun to live with and there was always interesting dinner conversation.”
Angelo Longo was a friend of Rev. Valeriote since childhood.
“He was a very good athlete,” said Longo. “He won the Collyer Trophy for running. All of his brothers were good athletes. The Valeriote brothers owned that trophy for many years.”
Valeriote was ordained in 1949 and served parishes in Dundalk, Drayton, Hanover, Hamilton and Paris.
“His last parish was St. Joseph’s in Acton and that is where he retired from 21 years ago,” said Noon. “He was in residence here helping out and filling in for priests in the community when they were away.”
He suffered with a number of health issues in the last years of his life but always remained positive and hopeful. Peter Valeriote spent a lot of time with his uncle then and took him to doctor’s appointments
“He couldn’t wait to get to heaven,” said Valeriote. “He was always saying I want to go home but the father isn’t ready to take me. That’s the way he looked at it. He was not afraid of death.”
He said he was an example to the whole family and everyone whose life he touched.
A public visitation was held Sunday at the Basilica of Our Lady followed by a vigil and interment at Marymount Cemetery.
