Maria LEO

1932 - 2022

MARIA LEO (née Tibaudo) 1932 - 2022 It is with much sadness that I announce my dear and beautiful mother passed away on June 13, 2022, at Scarborough Health Network - Birchmount Hospital from complications from dementia at the age of 89 and is now reunited in heaven with her beloved spouse, Vito (d. 1988). Born in Vita, Trapani, Sicily, Italy on November 24, 1932. The second of four children and the daughter of the late Andrea Tibaudo (d. 1983) and Sebastiana Abate (d. 1999). Predeceased by her son-in-law, Vito Renda (d. 2018), her sister, Vita (d. 2015) and spouse, Girolamo Corso (d. 2014) and sister-in-law, Antonina (d. 2015) and spouse, Pietro Aguanno (d. 1974). Survived by her only child and devoted daughter and caregiver, Enza Maria Renda, loving grandchildren Salvatore, Vito and Nicolas (Cristina) and great-granddaughters, Violet Marie and Sophie Rose. Also survived by her sister Rosa (Pietro Di Stefano d. 1993) and brother Giuseppe and spouse Paola Tibaudo and sisters-in-law Caterina (Salvatore Accardo d. 2005), Maria (Giuseppe Leo d. 2017) and Maria (Giuseppe Accardi d. 2021). She was set to sail to Canada with her spouse but there was a setback because of a technicality in her immigration papers and was therefore forced to come to Canada at a later date on her own. Sailing on the SS Conte Biancamano, she arrived at Halifax's Pier 21 on June 8, 1953 and boarded the train to Toronto and was reunited with her beloved Vito who was waiting for her at Union Station. She would always say what a great country Canada is and how grateful she was to be given that opportunity to live here. She was hard working and worked in the garment district for quite some time and when her eye health did not allow for that anymore, she worked as a cashier and deli clerk and then as a lunchroom supervisor at Briar Hill Public School in Toronto. She was a great gardener, cook, baker, knitter, seamstress, social butterfly and at times could be feisty. She was efficient, quick and could find humour. Her soul would radiate high energy, spirit and kindness. She will be dearly missed by her family, sister and brother, sisters-in-law and many nieces and nephews in Italy and Canada. Many thanks to CELHIN for their continued guidance and support and the PSWs from Spectrum for all their help which allowed me to keep and care for my mom at home. She also received excellent and dedicated nursing care from her nurse, Nerissa. The family will receive friends at the Holy Cross Catholic Funeral Home, 211 Langstaff Road East (west of Bayview Ave.) from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Sunday, June 19, 2022 and from 2:00-4:00 p.m. and 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Monday, June 20, 2022. A mass of Christian burial will take place within the funeral home in the Chapel of St. Joseph on Tuesday, June 21, 2022 at 10:30 a.m. The final rite of committal will take place at Westminster Cemetery 5830 Bathurst St., North York. If desired, donations may be made to the Alzheimer Association of Canada or the Heart and Stroke Foundation. Online condolences and directions may be found at www.catholic-cemeteries.com.