elevated LjZPR September 2, 1930 ~ December 2, 2024

elevated LjZPR Visitation
Friday, December 6, 2024 from 2 – 4 & 6 – 8 pm

elevated LjZPR Holy Cross Catholic Funeral Home
211 Langstaff Road East, Thornhill, ON, L3T 3Z6

elevated LjZPR Funeral Mass
Saturday, December 7, 2024 at 12:00 pm                                   

elevated LjZPR Chapel of St. Joseph – Holy Cross Catholic Funeral Home

elevated LjZPR Entombment
Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery
8361 Yonge Street, Thornhill, ON, L3T 2C7

elevated LjZPR Holy Family Mausoleum

elevated LjZPR Donations
In lieu of flowers, donations to your local food bank would be appreciated by the family. 

elevated LjZPR Obituary
It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of Nicolina Valente (née Vecchiarelli), who peacefully left us on December 2, 2024, at the age of 94. Nicolina was born on September 2, 1930, in Campobasso, Italy, as one of nine children. She grew up working alongside her family, helping farm their land. She is survived by one sibling, Giovani Vecchiarelli (Assunta). 

elevated LjZPR  In 1952, Nicolina married the love of her life, Libero Valente, and for the next 58 years together they built their prized possession – their family. Their first son, Nick, was born in 1953, and in 1954, they made the courageous decision to emigrate to Canada with little in their pockets. Arriving by boat in Halifax on June 10th, they made their way by train to settle in Toronto, where they would build a new life. They remained in Toronto the rest of their lives, returning to Italy only a handful of times.  

elevated LjZPR  Over the years, Nicolina and Libero had two more children: Maria, who tragically passed away as an infant, and Mario. Nicolina’s greatest joy in life was her family. She was a loving and devoted mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She is survived by her sons Nick and Mario, and served as the proud matriarch of six grandchildren – Chris, Ryan, Cory, Amber, Brandon, and Adam – and ten great-grandchildren, whose lives were enriched by her warmth and love. 

elevated LjZPR As an adult, Nicolina was a devoted Catholic, finding strength and comfort in her faith throughout her life. Religion was an important part of who she was, guiding her through both the joys and challenges of life, praying daily and attending church multiple times a week when she was physically able.  

elevated LjZPR  In their later years, Nicolina and Libero found joy in spending their winters in St. Petersburg, Florida. They bought a vacation home there in 1991, where they enjoyed the warmth of the sunshine and they quickly built a community of friends, some of whom still remain in contact with the family today. The most prized part of their snowbird winters was when family would visit for extended periods, a time when many fond memories were made that are cherished to this day. After nearly 60 years of marriage, Libero passed away in January 2011. Nicolina lived another 14 years, where she found strength through her family and religion. 

elevated LjZPR  Nicolina had a hearty, one-of-a-kind laugh that was contagious to those around her, often bringing smiles and laughter during family dinners. It is a well-remembered gift of hers that lifted spirits and brought happiness to others.

elevated LjZPR  A woman who took great pride in her heritage, Nicolina had a strong work ethic and she always stayed busy. She was especially well known for her passion and skills for homemade Italian cooking and her expansive vegetable gardens that she would often disappear into while weeding and pruning. Her meals were a reflection of her care and generosity, and guests would never leave her house empty handed, usually with packed containers that lasted for days. She also loved indoor plants, much to the chagrin of Libero who often found himself watering an estimated fifty plants on a regular basis.  

elevated LjZPR  Nicolina dedicated herself fully to her family, always ensuring that they were loved, nurtured, and cared for. May she rest in peace, reunited with her loved ones, and may her memory live on as a blessing to all whose lives she touched.