Mario Borrelli

Passed away peacefully, with family by his side, in Hamilton on Wednesday, June 2, 2021 at the age of 55. Mario is survived by his loving wife Annie and their two children Daniel and Lauren, his mother Palmina (the late Giuseppe) and brothers Mike and Mikey (Melissa). He will also be missed and fondly remembered by his four nephews, Nicholas (Michelle), Matthew, Joseph, Matthew, sister-in-law Sonya Ozimec (Peter), mother and father-in-law Steve and Mande Lokmer, and aunts, uncles and cousins in Hamilton, Toronto, Orillia, the U.S. and Italy.

Born in Port Arthur, Ontario, Mario and his family settled in Hamilton when he was just a few months old. Mario attended St. Bernard's Catholic Elementary School and graduated from Cardinal Newman Catholic Secondary School in 1983. While in High school Mario met his high school sweetheart and love of his life, Annie. As the story goes, Mario convinced Annie to go out on a date with him after he offered her a grape popsicle in front of many friends at a lunch table in the school's cafeteria. Mario always knew what people's favourite foods were, and this anecdote was how Mario lived his life with love and hospitality. Annie and Mario got engaged in 1988 and married on November 18, 1989. Together Mario and Annie had two children Daniel and Lauren, who Mario adored, cherished, and loved unconditionally. Mario and Annie built a warm and loving family together on the Stoney Creek Mountain, where they have lived since 2002.

In life, Mario's children were his priority and joy. He continually let them know that they had "the coolest dad in the world". A dedicated father, Mario treated his children to "special lunches" on Fridays in Elementary School. In addition, he prioritized attending every one of Daniel's sporting events and Lauren's dance recitals. As his children got older, they started to appreciate his outgoing and social person-ality, eventually nicknaming him "Mr. Social". The nickname was genuinely fitting, and it was a guarantee that Mario would run into someone he knew anywhere he went.

Mario started working for Aldo De Santis Realty Inc. in 1994. His social and outgoing nature helped him flourish in his real estate career. An article in a local newspaper in 2004 compared the "instantly likeable" Mario's shining success in the real estate development industry to sports-related dynasties such as 1972 -'74 Oakland Athletics, the 1975-'79 Montreal Canadians and lastly, the 1991- 93' Chicago Bulls. The article's author made these comparisons because he had won the Hamilton - Halton Home Builders' Association (now known as West End Home Builders Association) award, an "unprecedented" six times. When the article was written, it was his fifth consecutive year winning the award. Mario's achievements in real estate did not end in 2004. He was also recognized on the national stage for best new homes salesperson at the Canadian National Home Builders Association and was the runner-up.

Beyond his work, Mario loved tending to his hot pepper plants, develop recipes, barbeque, entertaining and hosting his friends and family, and watch his beloved Toronto Maple Leafs. In addition, he loved to "just get away" as he called it. He was well travelled and often took vacations with family and friends to the Caribbean. Mario's presence will be truly missed by many, and our family will miss his shining personality.

Visitation at SMITH'S FUNERAL HOME, 454 Highway #8 (east of Millen Road) STONEY CREEK (905-664-4222) on Sunday, June 6 and Monday, June 7, 2021 from 3-9 p.m. Private Funeral Prayers will be held on Tuesday, June 8, 2021 at 10 a.m. followed by Private Interment at Our Lady of the Angels Cemetery in Stoney Creek. Funeral Prayers may be viewed via livestream. A link will be available on the Funeral Home's website. In accordance with provincial regulations, there is a limit to the number of visitors who may attend at one time. Please RSVP in advance on Mario's Tribute page or call the Funeral Home to reserve a time to visit. Visitors are asked to remain in their vehicles until their reserved time.

If desired, memorial contri-butions to Juravinksi or St. Joseph's Hospital would be sincerely appreciated by the family.


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