Ortensia Sgromo

It is with broken hearts the family announces the peaceful passing of Ortensia Sgromo a beautiful wife, mother, sister, Nanna, Zia and friend on Tuesday, April 20, 2010. Ortensia was born March 16, 1935 in Curinga Catanzaro, Italy. She and her husband Sebastiano (Sam) travelled by boat to "AMMERRICCCCAAAAAAA", Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada. It was her brother Domenic, "Meeko", that called for her to join him for a better life here. Together they started their new life together in "ahhhh blocka", an apartment on Cumberland Street. After the fire on Cumberland Street, Sam and Ortensia moved in with Domenic, "ahhhhhh Pietro Streeto". Sam worked hard and Ortensia took care of all the family members with her cooking and household chores. They saved their money and built their home on Hill Street. Ortensia's entire life was dedicated to taking care of her husband, children and family members. She especially enjoyed cooking for her grandchildren and making their special lasagna the one with just cheese and little teensy tiny meatballs. Her passion was growing her garden, especially her famous tomatoes that made the best "pomaroda salada". She lined the living room windows with styrofoam cups growing the tomato seedlings. Ortensia made sure she started early in the season. She spent endless hours alongside Sam "directing" how and what needed to be done to yield the most abundance of fruits and vegetables. She would share these with family and friends that dropped by Hill Street. Everyone always left with basketfuls of produce in hand. She enjoyed growing her beautiful flowers every year and tended to them lovingly. Even when she was sick in the hospital, she made sure that Sam "beevaarow", watered her plants and garden for her. Sam knew not to come back and visit at the hospital unless this chore was done for her. She loved her summers "ahhhh camp Shaw-bandew-wandoo" and had her fair share of bites on her fishing pole. She would run those 48 steps from the campo to the dock when the kids screamed NANNA NANNA!!!! We caught one! And swoop the fish into the net for them. She was an active member of St. Anthony's CWL, St Joseph's Auxilliary and the Italian Hall to name a few. She spent a lot of her spare time volunteering and especially loved making hosts with Sam and her friends at the church. She would bring the host scraps home to feed the birds. This was one way she thought she could bless the birds who in turn thanked her by coming and eating her cherries off her tree. She is survived by her husband Sam of 54 years; daughter Anna Mauro husband Ron and their children Jade and Jazmine; son John wife Teresa with their children Julia and John and son Peter. Also survived by her sister Maria Concetta Marasco married to Frank; Anita DeVito married to Guiseppe in Italy and brother Michelangelo Buragina married to Vittorina and numerous nieces and nephews. Predeceased by her parents Maria and Peter Buragina in Italy; brothers Domenic and Nicola and niece Beatrice. Funeral services for the late Mrs. Ortensia Sgromo will be held on Saturday April 24, 2010 leaving the EVEREST FUNERAL CHAPEL, 299 Waverley St. at Algoma at 8:50 AM to St. Anthony's Roman Catholic Church for the Funeral Mass at 9:30 AM. Entombment to follow in Our Lady of Charity Mausoleum, St. Andrew's R.C. Cemetery. Visitation for family and friends will be held on Friday evening (TONIGHT) after 5:00 PM in the EVEREST CHAPEL with the Vigil offered at 7:00 PM. The family respectfully requests in lieu of flowers and baskets, donations be made to St. Joseph's Care Group - Hospice Unit Family Cot Fund. This is important to our family and this will benefit other families in the future. Donations will be accepted at the Everest Funeral Chapel and may be mailed to the above funeral home address as well. We would like to heartfully thank the dedicated doctors and nurses of TBRHSC and St Joseph's Hospice Unit for their understanding, kindness and care for our Ortensia. A huge thank you to the hospice doctors - Dr. Migay, Dr. Davis, Dr. Cuccarolo and especially to Ortensia's ultimate favourite Dr. Kolobov for his inspiration, professionalism and going beyond for Ortensia over the years. Please sign the online condolences at everestofthunderbay.com "