MARIO COSTANZO

It was on the morning of Tuesday, December 16th that our much loved father, nonno and zio, Mario Carmine Costanzo, passed away peacefully at the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre surrounded by the love of his family.

While we will miss him immensely, we will be comforted by our cherished memories.

Mario was born in Borboruso, Italy, a place he loved, on July 8, 1936 to Fiore and Marietta (Perri). It was there that he met, and in 1956, married Cotilde (Angotti), his beloved spouse of 45 years. Together they welcomed three children: Tonina and Lorella in Italy, and Corrado in Thunder Bay.

Mario and Cotilde imparted foundational family values and traditions to their children, and they were immensely proud of their children's achievements. Mario was elated when his son Corrado, and daughter-in-law Shelley welcomed triplets, Elio, Tommaso, and Sophia whom he adored.

Mario was the youngest of 5 siblings: Emilio, Pietro, Luigi, and Petronilla. He remained close with all of his siblings despite great distances separating them from each other.

Like many others of his generation, Mario's life story includes the realities of postwar Italy, work experiences first on his family's farm, then as a blaster clearing rail tunnels in locations throughout Italy such as: Maratea, Genova, Varazze, Sondrio, and Bolzano among others. While working throughout Italy, he became an Omega Watch Representative. He often shared memories of his time spent in these spectacular locations with us.

In 1968, guided by tremendous courage and his wish to build a better life for himself and his family, he joined his oldest brother, Emilio, in Port Arthur and moved his young family to a new country. He spent the first few years working on many construction jobs that include landmarks such as the Thunder Bay Main Lighthouse, Waverley Park Towers, Lakehead University, and others. He joined the current City of Thunder Bay Infrastructure, Development and Operations Department in 1979 and retired from there in 2001.

Mario always looked forward to and delighted in spending time and travelling with his children and grandchildren. He took great pride in his longtime passion for gardening, and with an expert touch annually grew vegetables of every sort, and apples, pears, plums, as well as cherries from his trees and even oranges in his sunroom. In typical Italian fashion, food was at the centre of family life. He took great pleasure in teaching everyone in the family how to make wine, salumi, tomato sauce, and preserves on an almost industrial scale. He shared these bounties with family and friends at every opportunity. Mario also took an interest in cultural societies and was a member of St. Anthony Church and The Italian Society of Port Arthur.

Mario was predeceased by his parents, Fiore and Marietta, wife, Cotilde in 2001, siblings, Pietro, Emilio, Petronilla and Luigi.

Mario is survived by daughters, Tonina and Lorella; son, Corrado and daughter-in-law, Shelley, grandchildren, Elio, Tommaso and Sophia. Mario is also survived by sisters-in-law, nieces and nephews and extended family members in Canada, Italy and Australia.

Funeral services for the late Mario Costanzo, entrusted to Everest Funeral Chapel, will be held on Monday, December 22, 2025 at St. Anthony Roman Catholic Church. Visitation will be held from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m., followed by the funeral mass at 1:00 p.m., celebrated by Fr. Luigi Filippini. In Mario's memory, in lieu of flowers and other expressions of sympathy, donations may be made to TBRHSF Cardiovascular Surgery Fund.

The service for Mr. Mario Carmine Costanzo will be livestreamed from St. Anthony's RC Church, and can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HOn6cr1fpEg

Please sign the online condolences at everestofthunderbay.com