Domenico Laratta

Domenico Laratta passed away peacefully in his sleep on April 4, 2024 after a brief but difficult battle with dementia and related health issues.  He was born in San Giovanni in Fiore, Italy in 1932 and immigrated to Canada in 1951.  He married the love of his life, Caterina (Kay) in November of 1960 and they were happily married for 52 years until Kay passed away in 2012. 

A very social person, Domenic loved being with family and friends. At his house, the espresso was always ready to be served to any visitors.  He welcomed everyone as though they were family, and made everyone feel at home.  Blessed with excellent health for most of his life, Domenic would often cut the grass or shovel the snow for much of his neighbourhood.  He would say, “They are all old people”, yet he was in his late 80s at the time!  He loved to tend his yard, garden, and apple trees. 

Domenic was a very talented musician who could entertain people for hours with his ability to play the accordion.  He was also always the family photographer and videographer, preserving our family history on film, photos and videos.  Domenic was hard-working and excelled in every job he undertook, from working as a lumberjack, to working in coal mines, to becoming a foreman with Con-Force, to becoming an entrepreneur starting several successful businesses, including a dry cleaner, poultry farm, gravel truck driver, and Franklin Formals, Canada’s most successful wedding gown, formal wear and tuxedo store.  He made many friends along the way and was himself a very generous and devoted friend who was loved by all who knew him.  He lived for his family, his wife and kids, his grandkids, his siblings and extended family as well. 

Domenic is survived by his children Joe (Doris), Rena, Frank (Lorraine), and Trisa (Jeff), grandchildren Emily (Josh), Vanessa, Maddie (Dwayne), Jessica (Jordan), Adriano (Megan), Matteo, Shawn and Tyler, and great-grandchildren Kayden, Greyson, Lennon, Katie and Benjamin.  He is also survived by his brothers John (Teresa), Pasquale (Maria), Tony (Ada), and Frank (Pina), sisters Anna (Frank) and Marcella, as well as brothers-in-law John (Joanne) and Pat (Jeanne) and sister-in-law Rosie, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends both in Canada and Italy.  He was pre-deceased by his parents Giuseppe and Caterina Laratta, in-laws Frank and Teresa Mosca, sisters Teresa Oliverio and Rosetta Intrieri, brothers-in-law Harvey Mosca, John Battista Laratta, Chuck Martell, Salvatore Oliverio, Salvatore Intrieri, and Mario Fiorito, and sisters-in-law Hazel Mosca, June Mosca, and Maria Laratta. 

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at Corpus Christi Catholic Church (404 Northmount Pl NW) on Friday, April 19, 2024 at 10:30 am

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimer Society of Canada.