Josephine Del Guercio

It is with great sadness that we share the passing of Josephine Del Guercio on December 28, 2020 at the age of 92 years. She slipped away peacefully in her sleep surrounded by her loving family.

Josephine, born May 23, 1928 in Caposele, a small mountain side town near the Amalfi Coast of Italy, was the eldest of 4 brothers and one sister. She learned to work hard on their small farm at a very young age. At 22 she met and married Antonio, and shortly after they started their family, Pascal and Rose.

In 1957 Josephine and Tony welcomed an opportunity to immigrate to Canada and came straight to Gleichen, Alberta where dads brother Nick had a job lined up for him with the CPR. Soon after arriving they decided to expand the family and along came Angelina and Frank. Both Josephine and Tony worked multiple jobs in Gleichen to get ahead and in 1973 they decided to move to Calgary where Tony worked for the Calgary School Board and Josephine for the Colonel Belcher Hospital. On retiring they chose to travel the world for a dozen or more years. There wasn’t a continent missed, from Asia, Russia, Middle East, Africa, South America, USA and Canada as well as cruises, but the majority of their trips were going back to Europe and especially Italy to be with family.

While in Gleichen, Josephine started her cooking legacy, making the tastiest tomato sauce from her mother’s recipes that adorned her pasta and pizza dishes. Mom cooked with a wood fired oven and when the chimney kicked out smoke it was a sign that our school friends knew to follow us home for some pizza or baking. No one ever refused a dinner invite knowing how great Nonna’s cooking was. Socializing in our home was always at the kitchen table where there was an abundance of tasty dishes that never stopped coming. Mom and Dad always had several gardens and a greenhouse where they loved cultivating their own vegetables for themselves and anyone that stopped by. Our dinners grew to family plus friends, many friends. Our family with her encouragement has been carrying on her tradition for the last 35 plus years, hence our Christmas dinners are now usually 50 plus. Mom was never selfish with her recipes and she offered cooking lessons to all that asked. Mom may be gone but her memories and tomato sauce will definitely live on in many homes.

Most of all, Mom loved her kids and grandkids unconditionally and instilled strong values in all of us. As most moms she taught us to be loving, caring, sharing, kind and patient. Josephine was a devoted Catholic, married 71 years to Antonio and was the loving mother to Pascal Del Guercio (Una), Rose Ryan (John), Angel Klapecki (Don), Frank Del Guercio. Proud grandmother to Jason Del Guercio (Luke). Samantha McAndrews, Bob (Marley & Maggie). Jennifer James (Jack). Ami’s children (Marisa, Natalia, Enzo). Jessica Klapecki-Boos (Cody). Virginia Klapecki-Switzer, Greg (Olivia). Mikel Del Guercio. Josephine also leaves behind her sister Maria (John) Rosania in Salerno, Italy as well as numerous nieces and nephews both here and in Italy. Josephine was predeceased by her grand-daughter Ami Ryan-Iuliani in 2011.

“HER MEMORY WILL LIVE ON IN OUR HEARTS...”

Private family Funeral Mass will be held at St. Pius X Catholic Church on January 4, 2021. Graveside Service to follow at Queen’s Park Cemetery. A public celebration of Josephine’s life will be held immediately after Covid-19 allows. 

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