Obituary of Mariannina Basacco
Basacco, Maria Angela
born 21 May 1927 - died 4 July 2024
On July 4 Maria Angela Basacco (Mariannina) passed away peacefully at home surrounded by many family members. Mom was predeceased by her husband Nicola, her twin sons Syl and Rock, and Rock’s wife Lena. She leaves behind her sister for 94 years Teresa Palleschi, and her sons Pat and Tony; her son Nino and his partner Darlyne; her daughter Linda and her husband Vince. Also left behind to honour Maria’s memory are grandkids Frank (Renée), Marisa (Andrew), Nick (Sara), and Patricia (Paolo), and their 10 great grandchildren; grandson David Basacco and his wife, Jessica; granddaugthers Erin (Adam) and Kayla (Safee) Basacco.
Born two years before the Great Depression, Maria Angela Basacco had a hard life in Italy. She survived World War II and the terrifying bombings. In her late teens she met and later married our Dad, Nicola. A few years after the war, Mom gave birth to her Italian born kids, Nino and Linda. Soon after, Mom and Dad started thinking of better opportunities in less war-torn countries. And we sure are glad they chose Canada!
In 1951, Dad came to this great country, and within two years he had raised enough money to send for Mom and her two young kids. So, in 1953 we crossed the Atlantic and settled in London, Ontario. By the time we arrived, Dad had found steady employment with the City of London and, soon after, in 1954, Maria gave birth to our twin Canadian born brothers, Rock and Syl. Our nuclear family was set.
With four young kids to feed and clothe, Mom started working at any jobs she could find that did not require her to speak English – jobs in various meat processing plants or as a maid at the Holiday Inn. She was proud, hard-working and stubborn as hell. Maria helped Dad steer us through some pretty lean times, but as the Fifties rolled into the very lively Sixties, we had nowhere to go but up! Maria and Nicola worked hard and saved, but we always had a place to live and lots of great home-made food to eat. In 1961, Mom and Dad built their own home in a quiet east end neighbourhood, where Maria lived by herself until the day she passed away.
Our Mom was an amazing woman – as most moms are. Having known the depths of poverty in Italy, she had a huge and generous heart. She showered her kids, nieces , nephews and grandkids with gifts on every special occasion. She was, as most Italian women used to be, an incredible cook. Her lasagna, gnocchi, ravioli, etc. became famous in London after her son Syl opened his restaurants, especially La Casa, which often featured huge lasagnas she made herself or dishes that were created from her own recipes.
With Mom’s guidance and Dad’s encouragement, all four kids graduated from U.W.O. and then from Teacher’s College. Three of us had very rewarding careers as teachers, while Syl, preferring to deal with an older crowd, became a very successful restauranteur, before his early passing at the age of 48. Maria was always so proud of her kids, their successful careers and their many accomplishments. But most of all she was proud of the families her kids raised. Before her passing Maria loved and nursed four kids, 7 grandkids and 10 great grandkids – a legacy of hearts and souls who will never forget her. When our Dad first arrived in Canada, he was the first Basacco here. Now there are many!
Our happiest years as a family were the three decades of 1960 to 1990. Gradutations, weddings, births and baptisms ruled the day. Maria and Nick were very happy hosting and enjoying these many special occasions with huge 5-6 course meals. Mom was in her glory watching everybody devour everything on their plates. These are the great times we will remember best – Mom and Dad surrounded by all their happy kids and grandkids.
But, as we all know, “nothing beautiful lasts”. In 1991, Dad passed away, leaving Maria on her own. Then, just when LaCasa was hitting its stride as a popular London restaurant, Syl passed away suddenly in 2003, once more leaving Maria devastated. Mom’s remaining kids took over the operations of both restaurants, until 2021, when Rock also passed away. By then Covid had kicked in and Maria had become debilitated, so that she could no longer visit her restaurants every day, over seeing everything, as she did for so many years. For despite her broken English and her humble nature, Mom was a burning light of intelligence, with a fierce and loving heart. Rest in Peace, Mom, for you lived a very long and good life!
Visitors will be received at John T. Donohue Funeral Home, 362 Waterloo Street at King Street, on Monday, July 8 from 2-5 and 6-9 o'clock. Funeral Mass at St. Mary's Church, 345 Lyle Street, on Tuesday morning, July 9 at 10 o'clock. Entombment in Holy Family Mausoleum, St. Peter's Cemetery. Prayers Monday evening at 8:15.
In lieu of donations in memory of Maria may be made to the Canadian Cancer Society and the St. Marys Church Reconstruction Fund would be appreciated.
