April 7, 1941 - September 19, 2020
With very heavy hearts we announce that after a courageous battle with cancer, Assunta passed away on September 19 with family supporting her. Assunta was born in Serra San Bruno, Italy to Giuseppe and Addolorata Chirico on April 7, 1941 the sixth of ten children.
In 1861 Assunta emigrated with her family to Canada and settled in Nelson, British Columbia.
Assunta dedicated her life to her family. She cared for Giuseppe and Addolorata until their deaths and then through her generosity of spirit kept family traditions alive so the second and third generations knew their roots. She was deeply loved by all.
Assunta had a passion for working with fabrics and opened her own tailor shop on Baker Street which she operated for over 40 years. Through her work she tailored clothes and influenced many lives. Her work family included the staff from Godfrey's, Emory's and Baker Street Men's Wear to fire fighter and police persons and those people who worked in the shops and offices in her building.
That shop was also a sanctuary for her family. Although our parents sent us to Zia Assunta to get our clothes altered, we all often visited to chat. She was always willing to listen and to let us know which life path was the correct one. We always felt loved and safe with her. She made us blankets, pillows, jackets and artwork to ensure we knew we were loved unconditionally.
She as we all did, loved our family picnic extravaganzas. Aunt Assunta would visit, laugh, and show off her bocce skills. She enjoyed tending to her large food garden and flowers, watching comedies and laughing with you. This was her place.
She was a devout Catholic and often led the saying of the rosary to pray for healing or to console the soul. She was predeceased by her brother Salvatore (Santina) and her sister Carmella (Tony). She is survived by her sisters Yolanda (Bob), Rita (Alfio), Catarina (Vito-deceased) and her brothers Cosmo (Palma), Bruno (Wendy), Angelo (Gina) and Franco (Rosarina-deceased) and many nieces and nephews that loved her greatly.
....You touched our lives on many ways
But we know an angel walks with us in the following days
To heaven you go with all the others
A celebration for them, for us here, grey colours...
We thank Dr. Malpass and all the staff involved with her cancer treatments. Her journey was made easier by your compassion. To Dr Kobayashi and all the staff on the third floor KLDH, thank you for guiding Assunta and us through the final weeks and days. Your care and love is appreciated.
Thank you to all our family and friends for your prayers, well wishes and kind deeds to make our lives a little easier. To keep our family and you families safe during the pandemic, there will be a private funeral mass.
The family asks that expressions of sympathy in Assunta's memory, be made to the Kootenay Lake Hospital Foundation.