20 August 1928 – 5 February 2025
On the evening of February 5, 2025, we lost someone whose love and determination laid the groundwork for an entire family. That man was Giuseppe (Joe) D’Angelo. He passed away peacefully at the age of 96.
He is survived by his daughters Rina (Domenico Ranalli) and Mary (John Sabljic, deceased), grandchildren David, Andrea, Lorena, Joseph, and their spouses, as well as grandchildren Sabriina, Linnea, Alessia, Matteo, Mila and Christian.
Giuseppe is predeceased by his wife of 69 years, Giuseppina, sons, Franco and Antonio, and siblings Lorenzo, Maria, Elvira, Suor Caterina and Tony (Maria).
He will be sorely missed by his family and numerous friends in Canada, the U.S. and Italy.
Giuseppe was born August 20, 1928, in Pennadomo – a tiny, mountain-side village in Italy’s rugged Abruzzo region. Though his early life was anything but easy, Giuseppe was deeply proud of where he came from and loved sharing stories and traditions from his homeland.
He married his wife Giuseppina in 1952, and – in search of a better life for his young and growing family, headed to Canada on his own to get established. He settled in Guelph, Ontario, where he lived with his brother, Tony and wife, Maria. Giuseppe found work as a construction labourer during the day and took English and carpentry courses at night – eventually earning enough to bring his wife and daughters over.
It could be said that Giuseppe had two careers: His “day-job” at Fiberglass Canada, where he worked for three decades, and his “real job” as the other half of the D’Angelo food production team. He tended his massive tomato garden, made wine, cheese, sausage and sugo religiously, struck milk deals with Mennonites – and more.
Giuseppe had a professional comedian’s sense of timing and could unleash puns and devastating zingers at a moment’s notice. He was hilarious in two languages when most people are barely funny in one.
He was also a talented musician, a top-notch storyteller and a source of blunt, unvarnished wisdom. To Giuseppe, no sacrifice was too great if it meant his family would live better than he did and be able to have the opportunities he didn’t.
Giuseppe’s family would like to extend a heartfelt thank-you to the nurses and personal support workers at St. Joseph’s Health Centre for their compassionate care.
A visitation will be held at the Gilbert MacIntyre & Son Hart Chapel, 1099 Gordon St., Guelph on Wednesday, February 12 from 5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
The funeral service will take place at Gilbert MacIntyre & Son Hart Chapel on Thursday, February 13 at 11:00 a.m. followed by a committal service at Marymount Cemetery – 5400 Highway 6 North, Guelph.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Alzheimer Society of Canada.