Maria Mirigello

Maria Mirigello, beloved mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, passed away peacefully on February 25, 2025, in Newmarket, Ontario, Canada. She was born on November 25, 1935, in Siderno Marina, Reggio Calabria, Italy. Maria was a vibrant soul who gifted the world with her warmth and love, touching the lives of all that knew her.

She was a devoted wife to her late husband Antonio, sharing 33 wonderful years together filled with companionship and cherished memories. As a mother, all she ever wanted was a sense of togetherness in her family, raising her children with love, wisdom, and steadfast support. She is survived by her children: Anna (Robert), Carlo, Ralph (Lisa), Aldo (Jessica), and Connie (late Cosimo).

Maria took immense pride in her role as a grandmother. Her grandchildren, Michael, Daniel, Ciara, Anthony, Simona, Martina, Massimo, Leila, Maria, Adrianna, Leo, and Laura were the light of her life. Each moment spent with them was a cherished memory, filled with stories, laughter, and the warmth of her loving embrace. As a great-grandmother, she welcomed Torrance, Parker, Gianfranco, Angelina, Matteo, Sebastian, Jack and Mia into her heart, creating an ever-expanding circle of love that will endure through generations.

Beyond the warm embrace of her family, Maria found joy in the simple pleasures of life. Her hands worked their magic, starting with her fabulous meatballs, they were hands down, the best! They would make anyone’s mouth water. With her precious hands, she also enjoyed crocheting and knitting, creating beautiful works of art, and crafting treasures that adorned her loved ones’ lives. On quieter days, laughter echoed around her favorite second home, BINGO. There she relished the thrill of the game and the camaraderie that accompanied it. These hobbies were a tapestry of connection woven from every strand of yarn, each bingo number dabbed, every meatball rolled, and everything was filled with memories and delightful encounters. All who were fortunate to know her were touched by her immense positive outlook on life! Her petite frame with such an enormous heart put a smile on everyone’s face.

Maria Mirigello will be dearly missed but never forgotten, as she leaves behind a legacy of love that will continue to bring comfort to her family and friends. May she rest in peace, embraced by the love she so freely shared during her remarkable life.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in memory of Maria to Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada or Canadian Lung Association.

Visitation will be held at Westminster Funeral & Reception Centre (5826 Bathurst St, between Finch and Steeles on the west side), located on the grounds of Westminster Cemetery. The family will receive guests on Monday March 3, 2025 from 3:00pm to 8:00pm. The Funeral Service will be held in the Trillium Chapel of Westminster on Tuesday March 4, 2025 at 10:00am with entombment to follow at Westminster Cemetery. 

Eulogy Written and Presented by Daniel Badanjek

Good morning, everyone. I would like to start by thanking you all for being here today as we celebrate the life of a woman whom I can only describe as one of a kind—my Nonna, Maria Mirigello. In the days following my Nonna’s passing, my mother asked if I would like the honor of delivering the eulogy. At first, I was a little hesitant. It wasn’t because I didn’t want to do it, but because how does one go about encapsulating such a larger-than-life character? What can I say that will do justice to the life she led, the life she built alongside my Nonno, Antonio, and the life she provided for their children and grandchildren? The answer is, I can’t. And I don’t think anyone can. That, in itself, is a testament to the impact she had on everyone’s life.

As I scrambled for ideas and felt the pressure mounting, a word kept coming to mind: perspective. Growing up, some of my fondest memories took place at my Nonna’s condo. The air would be filled with the wonderful smell of her homemade meatballs, which were simply heavenly, and you could hear her favorite game show, The Price Is Right, playing in the background. She would embrace us with the tightest of hugs, the softest of kisses, and the brightest of smiles. We would go down to the mailroom, which, at best, was a 7-minute trip for the average resident, but my Nonna was not your average resident. It was almost like being in the presence of a celebrity because, along the way, we would get stopped by what seemed to be the entire building. They always talked about one of three things: 1) When should they get together for tea? 2) When should they go to bingo and gamble their pension? Or 3) which was always my personal favorite—should they get together for tea before or after gambling their pension? Even then, I could feel the energy she radiated, the glint in people’s eyes when they spoke to her, and why they gravitated toward her. She was the ultimate people person.

I would always ask her to tell me stories about her friends and family from the old country, when she first came to Canada, her time as a seamstress, all the basement parties in Scarborough, etc. I would get so immersed in the level of detail she provided that it was almost as if we were in a time machine, reliving those moments in real time. It was nothing short of amazing. However, the stories she loved telling the most always involved my Nonno, another larger-than-life character. A true family man, they shared the purest form of love. I found inspiration through her stories of him and have been chasing his ghost ever since.

In early 2020, my Nonna moved into our home. For six years, our days started and ended with her. For six years, she was our beautiful ray of sunshine, the love of our lives, our queen, our world. And those six years were the best years of our lives. They were far from easy, especially for her, because death came knocking on her door many times, and each time, she slammed it shut. Although she was small in stature, she was mighty and a force to be reckoned with. It was just her time to say goodbye.

Nonna, I’m going to miss kissing you goodbye before work. I’m going to miss coming home and hearing Steve Harvey in the background. I’m going to miss bringing you Iced Capps from Tim Hortons. I’m going to miss watching you knit. I’m going to miss smothering you with kisses and telling you I love you a thousand times. I’m going to miss playing with your hair. I’m going to miss your contagious laugh. I’m going to miss peeking into your room late at night to see if your belly was moving. I’m going to miss your beautiful smile, but above all else, I’m just going to miss you. You were the most loving, giving, nurturing, selfless person I’ve ever met. Thank you for being the best Nonna a grandson could ever wish for. Thank you for giving me and Michael the best mother we could ever have dreamed of. Thank you for teaching me the importance of seeing the good in people, even when those people didn't recognize the good in themselves. Thank you for believing in me when I didn’t believe in myself. Thank you for mending my heart when it was broken. Thank you for helping me become the man I am today. I promise I will carry on the lessons and values you instilled in me and pass them on to the next generation. Wherever you are, I know you’ll be looking over me. Please give my love to Nonno and Zio Cosimo. Ti Amo sempre, Daniel