Obituary of Umberto Odorico

UMBERTO ODORICO (“Berto” or “Albert”)February 11, 1930 - October 13, 2020It is with great sadness that we announce the peaceful passing of our father and Nonno with his family by his side in the house he built overlooking the garden and orchard he loved to tend with his cherished wife, Ines, who predeceased him 5 years’ ago after 59 years of marriage. Beloved father of Franco (Gail), Eddie and Lily, and loving Nonno to Amanda. He leaves behind many nephews and nieces both in Canada and Italy. Born in Gonars Friuli, raised in Gaio near Spilimbergo, the youngest and last remaining of 7 sons, he will now join his brothers to hunt the fields of their childhood once again. Life on a small family farm taught him the meaning of hard work and dedication to family. His humble beginnings and upbringing during the war years shaped his life and made him the hardworking, dedicated and determined person he became. During the war, at the age of 14, he was with one brother and three friends trying to disassemble an artillery shell for its gun powder to make shotgun shells when he ran to the sound of a small song bird he was hoping he caught in a trap he had set, saving him from a life threatening explosion just seconds later taking the lives of the other four. He always referred to the bird that saved his life as his guardian angel.Emigrating to Canada in 1950, he arrived penniless, unable to speak English, with only a grade 5 education and the clothes on his back. His intent was to make enough money to return to Italy and buy a farm with his brothers, as his father had done before him. He, like so many Italians, started as a labourer in construction, learning the masonry trade and starting his own company. In 1953, with two other Friulani, he formed 3 Star Bricklayers, to become Canadian Star Ltd., constructing buildings across southern Ontario. Working long days, often 6 to 7 days a week, or doing out of town projects for weeks and months on end, returning home only on weekends, he, along with his 2 partners, successfully built this business so that his family and their future would be taken care of. After Canadian Star, his business expanded into Metro Star Construction with the addition of 3 partners after the death of his original partner, which allowed his continued prosperity. Over the years whenever we were with him driving around the GTA, he would constantly point to buildings that he helped build and spoke about his work with pride.Once his business was established, he wrote to the love of his life in Italy to come to Canada to start a new life together. This young girl that he would meet at the local latteria, exchanging their families’ milk in return for cheese, became his wife. He described her as “la piu bella del paese”. Lucky for us she took a chance, leaving all her family in 1956 at the age of 20 to come to Canada to start a new life and new family.During his retirement he pursued his passions of hunting and fishing. The cervo and beccaccia can now rest easy knowing they will not be pursued by Berto. A diehard calcio and F1 fan always cheering his much-loved Udinese of the Italian league and Ferrari race teams. From spring to fall both he and mom were inseparable, always tending their huge vegetable garden and many fruit trees giving away so much of their bounty. Occasionally they would go fishing and hunting together. He was a master of the wood burning BBQ but did not know how to turn on the stove before mom passed after which he started watching cooking shows and learned to create dinners from scratch. He loved to putter around the house, always figuring creative ways to fix things instead of replacing with something new.Our father not only taught us how to hunt and fish, lay bricks and block and make wine but the importance of treating people fairly. Respected by the men that worked for him, he always maintained a high level of honesty and integrity throughout his lifetime. He was a man of few words, always learning a lot more by listening than talking. As easy going a person as you will ever meet, he always maintained a simple life style, his favoured saying “un pòc di formai, un toc di pan e un got di vin” (‘a bit of cheese, a piece of bread and a glass of wine”) is all that you need to live. He was always proud of his homemade wine and grappa, everyone that enjoyed them always praising his achievement.Extreme thanks to the nurses (especially Tina and Alicia) and personal service workers, for their compassionate and loving care towards our father, making it possible for him to stay in his own home for the past year and allowing him to live his last days as he wished looking out at his garden and fruit trees on Old Castlemore Road where a street will be named (Odorico) in his honour when the future subdivision being built there is finalized.******************************************A special thank you to our sister Lily who took care of our dad this past year. In particular, the last two months where she provided his home palliative care with patience, sympathy, and kindness. FRANK AND EDDIE“….. and someone said we are all just passing time and occupy our chair very briefly. The time we had with Dad was a gift and we are all the better that he occupied his chair so well. Some say we have more than our share of loss, but I see God’s light in this family every day and though I may not understand it, I trust in his plan for us all”“We never bury the dead, not really, we take them with us, it’s the price of living.”There will be NO OPEN PUBLIC VISITATIONVisitation at Scott Funeral Home, 7776 Kipling Ave, Woodbridge on Thursday October 22, 2020 between 2:00 - 4:00 and 6:00pm – 8:00 pm. In accordance with provincial regulations there is a limit to the number of visitors who may attend at one time. Please RSVP in advance to Gail Odorico at 365 388-0534 or 778 549-1893. Individuals are asked to wear a face mask and remain in their cars until the allotted time.A private family service will be held at Scott Funeral Homes at 11:00 am on Friday, October 23, 2020.In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to the Heart and Stroke Foundation.Join the burial at 11:00 am by clicking the link below or copying it into a new web browser.http://www.livememorialservices.com/Home/ServiceDetail/7088Physical distancing and wearing a mask will bemandatory for all guests. Due to physical distancing restrictions, the maximum capacity in our visitation suite is 30 people including family. Due to these restrictions, screening of all guests attending will take place outside prior entering the building.