In Celebration of
Livia Nero
April 23, 1927 -
April 18, 2020
It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Livia Nero (née Monaco) on April 18, 2020, just a few days shy of her 93rd birthday. Livia passed away peacefully at Etobicoke General Hospital after health complications related to Covid-19.
Predeceased by her loving husband, Giuseppe, in 1973. Livia will be forever missed by her son, Tony (Nancy); daughter, Anna Maria (the late Frank); and her daughter-in-law of over 30 years, Mary. Livia was honoured to be a grandmother (Nonna) to Alexandra (Joseph), J.C (Sabrina), Thomas, Rea (Agostino) and Daniel. A proud great grandmother (Bisnonna) to Massimiliano and Giorgia, with her third great grandchild, Luca, on the way.
Livia was born in Abruzzo, Italy and later moved to Buenos Aires, Argentina where she married her late husband, Giuseppe and started their family. Livia and her family immigrated to Toronto, Canada in 1965.
Heartfelt gratitude to the staff and residents of Villa Colombo Vaughan Di Poce Centre for the care and attention you provided Livia for many years, you were like a second family to her. A special thank you to the hardworking medical professionals at Mackenzie Richmond Hill Hospital and Etobicoke General Hospital for your attention and kindness while caring for Livia.
Due to the current pandemic, a small funeral and burial service will be held for immediate family members only. A celebration of life will be held at a future date. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation.
Eulogy:
A last goodbye to my very first friend;
Nonna, as far back as I can remember, I’ve always wanted to be just like you. I admired your kindness toward complete strangers, your genuine concern in the well-being of others, your fierce independence and of course, your luscious stark-white hair.
To this day, I still wish I could be like you. I wish I could be as resilient and positive during this trying time just as you were during the many hardships you faced throughout your life. Deep down in my heart I know you wouldn’t want your family and friends to cry, you would have never wished tears upon anyone regardless of the circumstance, instead you would have wanted us to celebrate your long, very full life…preferably at the Mandarin.
Some of my earliest, most vivid memories of you date back about 25 years ago, when I was in kindergarten and you used to pick me up at the playground gate, we would walk the pathway home together, but only after a “quick” visit to the park or the convenience store for a “little” treat. I remember one conversation we had as we walked hand-in-hand up the driveway, I said to you “Nonna, you’re going to live forever!”, and you turned toward the then 4-year-old me and so honestly replied, you said you didn’t want to live forever, you wanted to live as long as you were healthy and strong, you wanted to live long enough to see your grandchildren all grown up – and that you did.
When we think of my Nonna, let us remember that very little is needed to make a happy life. The simplest things made her so happy.
Nonna, when I think of you I will think of the way your eyes glistened and your big grin every time we surprise visited you, how excited you would get anytime you got a new scarf or sweater in your favourite shade of purple and that sweet little jive you did anytime we restocked your stash of treats that you would then share with everyone around you.
Thank you for instilling in us, your family and your friends, the love of conversation and quality time together.
We love you forever and always.
xoxo,
Rea Nero
