Obituary of Antonio Mantini

MANTINI, Antonio —Antonio passed away peacefully on Sunday, May 14, 2017 just days from celebrating his 92nd birthday.He was predeceased by Esterina, his wife of 60 years and is survived by his children Serafino Paul (Donnalyn) and Soriana (Peter) and grandchildren Nicole and Michaela Mantini and Aidan Solala.Antonio, one of eleven siblings was born and raised in a small village in the province of Teramo in the Abruzzo region of Italy. He was part of the courageous wave of Italian immigrants who came to Canada alone with nothing other than the blind belief that he could build a better life for his family. With no money, no education and unable to speak English he worked hard and rose from a labourer to a home builder.He was fiercely proud of his family and his Italian heritage and took great pride in his children and grandchildren's achievements, his vegetable garden and his homemade wine, sausages and prosciutto.He loved family celebrations and music. He took any opportunity to sing and was blessed with a strong, clear tenor voice that he was proud to display as a member of an Italian folk-music group.The family would like to offer special thanks to Avelyn and Joey Calamba-Remoreran whose kindness and patience allowed Antonio to live out his life independently, in his own home and on his own terms. Great appreciation also to his longtime neighbours Richard and Ching Yang who were always there to lend a helping hand and our gratitude to Doctors Wayne Ho Ping Kong and Sandra Marcus who made his last days more comfortable.The family will receive friends at the Ogden Funeral Home, 4164 Sheppard Ave. E., Agincourt (east of Kennedy Rd.), on Thursday from 2-4 and 6-9 p.m. A private family Funeral Mass will be held at St. Bartholomew Roman Catholic Church, 59 Heather Rd., Scarborough, on Friday at 10 a.m. Entombment Highland Memory Gardens.If desired, memorial donations may be made to the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Ontario.