DOMENICO ANTONIO MORELLI

Domenico Morelli, of 245 Fifth St. E., Fort Frances, Ont., passed away peacefully on Friday, July 25, 2008 at La Verendrye General Hospital in Fort Frances at 94 years of age.
Dad was born March 15, 1914 in Cleto, Italy to the late Diego and Teresa Morelli. In 1936, Dad married Rosina Pagnotta in Aiello Calabro, and the two remained together until her passing in 1993.
In 1951, Dad emigrated from Italy to Canada, where he worked for the C.N.R. under a one-year term contract. Upon hearing of his daughter’s (Teresa) death in Italy, Dad decided to move his family to Canada and become a citizen of Canada.
While recovering from the sadness associated with his daughter’s death, Dad was briefly hospitalized at La Verendrye Hospital, where, by chance, the hospital was looking for a qualified cook.
Sister Superior Alice Gelinas of La Verendrye Hospital found that Domenico was both fluent in French and a qualified cook, and a job offer was made. Domenico graciously accepted the offer and he worked at the hospital until his retirement in 1980.
In 1967, Dad proudly received his chef’s diploma—one of the first in Canada.
Domenico also was proud to have been a long-time member of the Knights of Columbus in Fort Frances.
Domenico joined the Italian military in the 1930s and proudly served his country in the World War II theatres of France, Italy, Yugoslavia, and North Africa (Tobruk).
In 1942, he was taken prisoner and served the remainder of the war as a P.O.W. until his repatriation to Italy in 1946.
As everyone knew, Dad had a passion for cooking and he loved shopping (Safeway). He also had a natural talent for growing flowers and a passion for music.
Most of all, Dad was a kind and extremely intelligent man with a commitment and dedication to ensuring that his family was raised in a peaceful and prosperous country.
Domenico was predeceased by his father, Diego; mother, Teresa; wife, Rosina; daughter, Teresa; brother, Francesco; stepbrother, Franco; great-granddaughter, Marie Sigurdson; and daughter-in-law, Margaret Morelli.
He is survived by his three loving sons, Dino Morelli (Elaine) of Fort Frances, Ont., Francesco Morelli (Linda) of Atikokan, Ont., and Julian Morelli (Heather) of Ottawa, Ont.
He also is survived by eight grandchildren, Gina (Greg) Sigurdson, Teresa (John) Hazel, Tony Morelli, Domenic Morelli (Tara), Dino Morelli Jr., Marina Morelli, Angela Morelli, and Benedict Morelli; six great-grandchildren, Miranda Sigurdson, Joshua Sigurdson (Katie), Jessica Hazel (Andrew), Jared Morelli, Lena Morelli, and Taylor Hazel; and two great-great grandchildren, Jaden Cooper and Landen McComb.
Funeral services will be held Thursday, July 31, 2008 at 10 a.m. at St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church in Fort Frances, with Fr. Francis Pudicherry officiating, assisted by Fr. Fiorentino Ferrer of Atikokan.
Interment will take place in Holy Cross Cemetery in Fort Frances.
Visitation will be held Wednesday, July 30, 2008 from 6:30-9 p.m. at Green Funeral Home in Fort Frances, with parish prayers offered at 7 p.m.
The pallbearers will be Tony Morelli, Domenic Morelli, Dino Morelli Jr., Benedict Morelli, Joshua Sigurdson, and Jared Morelli.
The honourary pallbearers will be Marina Morelli, Angela Morelli, Gina Sigurdson, Teresa Hazel, Miranda Sigurdson, and Jessica Hazel.
Bringing up the offertory gifts will be Lena Morelli, Taylor Hazel, Landen McComb, and Jaden Cooper.
Should family and friends so desire, in memoriam donations may be made to the charity of their choice c/o Green’s Funeral Home, P.O. Box 427, Fort Frances, Ont., P9A 3M8.
Online condolences may be offered at www.mem.com