ROMEO MAIONE

MAIONE, Romeo
Catholic Lay Leader and Social Activist
Peacefully at the Glebe Centre, May 12, 2015 surrounded by his family, Romeo died at the age of 90. Beloved husband of 59 years to Betty Maione, father of Alfred (Bee Hastings), Martin (Lena Cesario), Cathy (Ernie Zwarts), John (Nathalie Phipps), grandfather to eleven grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Loving brother of Elma Santache, Gilio Maione and Edmond Maione. He was predeceased by his parents Alfredo Maione and Antonia Ciambella, his brothers Luigi and Mario, and his sister Laurette Rassenti. He was one of Canada's foremost left-leaning Catholic laymen, social activist, indefatigable lecturer, writer, street philosopher and teacher. Romeo rose to hob knob with Popes and Governor Generals, received an Honorary Doctorate in Social Sciences from the University of Ottawa, worked for the poor and disadvantaged in underdeveloped countries, and sought to reform the social face of Catholicism. His subsequent life of leadership and honours led him to work in the private sector, government, union movement, and for the Catholic Bishops . In 1950 at the age of 25 years he joined the Catholic Lay Movement, the Young Christian Workers, and spent four years organizing the movement in Canada, and subsequently became International President of the YCW in Brussels, Belgium. In 1962 he became Assistant Director of the Social Action Department of the Catholic Bishops Conference in Ottawa, and later Assistant Director of International Affairs with the Canadian Labour Congress. In 1965, he was appointed by Prime Minister Lester Pearson to become a union representative to investigate working conditions in the Canadian Post Office. In 1976 Romeo joined the Canadian International Development Agency, (CIDA), as Director of International Affairs, and spent two years in Canberra, Australia with CIDA to help develop a NGO program along the lines of the Canadian structure. Back in Canada in 1979, he was chairman of a committee to oversee Project 4000, an organization set up by the late Mayor of Ottawa, Marian Dewar, to assist 4000 Vietnamese refugees to settle in Canada. In 1987 he received an invitation to participate as a Canadian delegate to a Catholic Synod "On the Laity" called by Pope John Paul II in Rome. In the last years of his life Romeo refused to go gently in the good night. He took to his computer to continue his lifetime fight to seek justice for the weak, the poor, the marginalized, and to plead for continual renewal and reform in Catholicism. After a heart attack in 2008, within three days, over 500 people from around the world had sent cards and emails of sympathy and support in his illness. A special thank you to everyone at the Glebe Centre for all their love and kindness over the past two years. Much love to Karen, Jennifer, Johanna, Mary Ann and all the staff. Visitation for Romeo will be held Monday, May 18, 2015 at the
Kelly Funeral Home, Walkley Chapel
1255 Walkley Rd, Ottawa, ON K1V 6P9
613-731-1255
from 2 to 4 and 6 to 9 p.m. Service Tuesday May 19, 2015 at Blessed Sacrament Parish, 194 Fourth Avenue, Ottawa, ON for Mass of Christian funeral at 10 a.m. In lieu of flowers, in memoriam donations to "Helping with Furniture" or the Glebe Centre are greatly appreciated. Condolences and sharing memories at www.kellyfh.ca.