Michele Morra
elevated 31m3Z September 29, 1945 ~ May 16, 2024
elevated 31m3Z Visitation
Tuesday, May 21, 2024 from 1 – 3 & 5 – 8 p.m. & Wednesday, May 22, 2024 from 9:15 a.m. -10:15 a.m.
Holy Cross Catholic Funeral Home
211 Langstaff Road East, Thornhill, Ontario, L3T 3Z6
elevated 31m3Z Funeral Mass
Wednesday, May 22, 2024 at 10:30 a.m.
Chapel of St. Joseph at Holy Cross Catholic Funeral Home
211 Langstaff Road East, Thornhill, Ontario, L3T 3Z6
elevated 31m3Z Click Here to Watch the Mass
elevated 31m3Z Entombment
Holy Trinity Mausoleum at Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery
8361 Yonge Street, Thornhill, Ontario, L3T 2C7
elevated 31m3Z Obituary
It is with so much sadness that we announce the passing of our wonderful father and husband Michele Morra. He passed away with his family by his side after a long and courageous battle with cancer.
elevated 31m3Z He was married to the love of his life for 57 years, Giuseppina (Pina as he liked to call her). They had three wonderful children, Carmela, Anthony (Gina) and Donato (Zoila) and six amazing grandchildren (Cassandra, Alyssa, Matteo, Chiara, Diego and Carolina). He was a devoted brother to his sisters Lucia (predeceased by Angelo), Phyllis (Tony, both predeceased) and Concetta (Vincenzo), a devoted uncle to many nieces and nephews, and a devoted cousin to many.
elevated 31m3Z He came to Canada at the young age of 16 and carried with him a strong work ethic that he instilled in his children and made education a priority for them ensuring they knew the importance of higher education.
elevated 31m3Z In his life he was highly accomplished and multi-talented. Highlights of his life included boxing at the St. Lawrence Markets, being an expert photographer having worked for multiple newspaper outlets and running a studio, being an expert in assembling and organizing fireworks displays, spearheading funding to build his community church (St. Catherine of Siena), coaching and refereeing numerous soccer teams and tournaments, being an excellent garden whisperer (nothing was as important as having his own “organic” produce), being an expert wine maker (insisting store bought wine was full of chemicals and making your own was optimal), being a renowned maker of grappa (specifically flavored grappa), an astound hunter, and having an expertise for things that flowed beyond this to include home renovations.
elevated 31m3Z He was sharp and had an excellent memory (even until the end) retelling countless stories of his childhood to family and friends. He was extremely knowledgeable in math, history and geography having many times put us in our place with this information.
elevated 31m3Z He could always make his family laugh from his broken English (Loblaws pronounced “low blouse”) to his frugality (we always overspent on everything and anything).
elevated 31m3Z He will be remembered as an exceptional individual who fought a long battle with courage, strength and resilience. No matter what difficulties he faced, he did it with grace and dignity. He leaves behind a legacy of hard work, devotion to family and loyalty to friends. His love for his wife, his children, family and friends will never waiver. God chooses among the best to join him in Heaven and he has opened up the gates for him. We will cherish every smile, every laugh, every story, every memory, and every moment God gave us with this angel. We will love you always.
elevated 31m3Z He will forever be missed by all of us and all those who were fortunate enough to have known him. He was a rock, a support and a mentor. We hope we continue to always make you proud of us. We will love you always.
elevated 31m3Z The family asks that in lieu of flowers donations be made to Bridgepoint Hospital. Please use the following link, “Hennick Bridgepoint Foundation (supportsinai.ca)”, in support of Palliative Care in Michele Morra’s Memory. We invite family and friends to share their memories below.
To Mike’s family. My sincerest and deepest sympathies on the passing of my beautiful cousin Mike. He was an inspiration to all who met him. He was a very kind man. He was a great comfort to us when we lost my dad, my mom and younger sister Gina. Even though Mike was battling his own health issues he called me regularly to see how me and my family were coping. Whenever I asked “how are you Mike” he always responded “ I am ok”. What an amazingly strong man! I have many memories when Mike came from Italy and lived in our house. I was 10 and Mike 16. I thought he was a movie star so tall and handsome. We had great times at Mortimer.
I know Pina, his children and grandchildren know how much Mike loved you and how blessed he was to have you all in his life especially at the end offering him love, care , comfort and support . I know Mike is in heaven enjoying the closeness of God and his family
Be strong all you and God bless you as you travel this very difficulty journey.
Your cousin Laura Morra
Dear Aunt Josie, Lina, Tony, Danny and family,
Our family loves you all. May you be comforted by the outpouring of love surrounding you.
I will miss my uncle Mike. When I went to visit him at the hospital he shared so many beautiful stories of his family. He was so proud of his children – Lina, Tony and Danny. He shared how successful they have been in life. He loves my Aunt Josie and how she would take care of him. I asked him if he wanted to eat the mangiacake hospital food or the feast my Aunt Josie brought in her purse. As he was eating I told him the funniest memory I have is when he pulled out his home made chili flakes out of suit jacket at my brother’s wedding. The pasta needed some heat!
I love and will miss you
Julian and the Ricci family
Dad, you will be forever and always in my memory. I will always cherish the stories you shared of your childhood in Monteleone, the adventures with your siblings and friends, all the gardening and investment advice you gave me. I will miss your impromptu visits when you “were in the area”, the games of sequence, scopa, and Mexican train that we played on weekends into the night, the trips we took to pick fruit in the summer with the kids and dancing the Tarantella at special functions. You live forever in our memories and in our hearts. I am taking extra good care of all the plants you gave us. Much love.
Dear Josie, Lina, tony and Danny
No words came express the loss of a husband and father. Mike was exceptional person and like a neighborhood father figure to all who grew up in the neighborhood. He kind and funny. He will be missed. All hugs and kisses from myself and Bill
Nonno.. my “twin”,
It is with so much sadness that you have left us. There is so much I could say here but please know you hold a very special place in my heart. Please continue to watch over me and the rest of the family. I am comforted in knowing that your body is finally able to rest and I hope you are at peace after a fierce battle. You make me a better nurse everyday and taught me so many things throughout your journey with Cancer. I love you dearly❤️
Dearest Mike.
Your kind words with our family mom dad Gina that left us much to early.
Thank you for being there for us. Mike you are a spectacular gentle man that most of relatives have enjoyed your wonderful stories and always giving a helping hand. God has you in his arms along with your mom dad siblings.
You raised a beautiful family that will miss you dearly and a wonderful caring wife that has always been beside you. Love you cousin Mike. Love pierina morra!!!
Growing up you taught us the importance of family and helping others. Education was a must. Spending money needlessly was not in your books even though some of us missed that memo lol. You had a love for all things green and it showed through your garden. There wasn’t anything you wouldn’t try growing. Up on the farm when I said yes to a small garden I didn’t expect a field of produce, but there it was in abundance. We could have fed all the neighbors and then some lol.
I will so miss all those nights of you calling me to say “Hi it’s your dad, what are you doing? Are you busy?”…which meant my computer isn’t working and can you come fix it. Me: “What did you touch?” Him: ” Nothing, I’m going to throw this thing in the garbage!” Complain he did but nonetheless he managed to use it quite successfully. My driving habits you complained about, even though honestly I still think my driving is fine and no I don’t think I have a “heavy foot” lol.
I would like to thank you again for never wavering in your love and support for myself and my girls when we needed it most. You never hesitated for a moment to come at a moment’s notice to help, no matter the time or day. From pickups to drop offs for dance, school, soccer, appointments and more.
I will miss our weekly runs to Costco that ended up in just walking around and getting samples and only my cart had groceries in it lol. Our weekly shopping runs with you list in hand and me on my phone. Flipp app dad I told you to get it but no paper it was lol.
I hope you are proud of all of us and I hope you are finally at peace and not suffering. I wish with all my heart I could have you here still, I’d take your good and bad any day if I could have it but God had other plans for you.
Love you forever and a day ❤️
My dearest Nonno, the most joyous, hard-working man I knew. It is with a heavy heart we have to say our goodbyes, and I will forever cherish our memories together. I am filled with a profound sense of gratitude, love and warmth you have brought into not only my life but the lives of everyone around you. My smile and heart grow fonder every time I reminisce on your stories, which I will hold deeply with me. I could sit for hours and listen to you talk about your memories growing up, and even now, those stories still hold the same impact on everyone, filling us with humour and happiness as we retell and share them. Your contagious battle with cancer has shown the strength, courage and perseverance you carried upon yourself throughout the years. You will always hold a special place in my heart, and I am beyond grateful for our time together. May you rest in peace, knowing you are deeply loved, missed and honoured.
Nonno, you will forever and always hold a special place in my heart and memory. I want to thank you for everything you have done for me during our time together. You were such a role model for me and always someone I looked up to. I always enjoyed sitting at the table with you and listening to every story you had to tell me. Every time, you always had a new one to tell, there was an endless amount of them. I will miss our walks on the Danforth and all our car rides and trips to Grande Cheese together, where everyone there knew you. You always taught me so much and made sure I knew the importance of hard work, respect, and education. You always taught me something new every time we worked together and always made an effort to come to see me. You would always stop by to help and say ” You were in the area” or “Just at the shop”. I will never forget seeing you in the stands at my games or in the crowds for special occasions. You meant everything to all of us, and I am so proud to call you my Nonno and best friend. I will love and miss you forever and always.
Dad,
It is with the heaviest heart that we must say our goodbyes. Reflecting on the years we shared, I am deeply grateful for the memories that we will cherish together and the love and kindness you have never failed to show me. Your unwavering generosity and light have never gone unnoticed, and I am forever grateful for how you have enriched my life with such love and happiness. Looking back and reflecting on our time together, I am overwhelmed and appreciative of everything you have done for Tony, Matteo, Chiara and myself. Your everlasting memory will forever follow through in our lives, guiding and inspiring me to follow in your perseverance, strength and wisdom. You will always hold a special place in my heart, and I am incredibly grateful for our time together. I will miss you and all your great stories I was so lucky to hear over the years. I love you and miss you deeply, thank you for giving me the privilege to call you Dad.
My heartfelt condolences to the Morra family. I had the pleasure spending so much time basking in the love of the Morra family throughout my life. Those times being included as an honorary Morra and extra daughter will be cherished. I was blessed to have known Michele Morra – a wonderful man who exemplified strength, love and devotion to his family always. I take comfort in knowing that while he is not here on earth anymore, he is in Heaven and lives on in the hearts of everyone he touched. Much love to his beautiful family. Hugs to you all.
Words cannot express how saddened we are to hear of your loss. May our condolences bring you comfort and may our prayers ease the pain of this loss. Today and always, may the memory of your dad bring you comfort and peace.
We are deeply saddened to hear about the passing of Uncle Mike and offer our most sincere sympathies to Josie, Lina, Tony, and Danny along with the rest of their families. While a difficult time, we can all cherish his memory knowing the positive impact Mike had in everyone’s lives and can see it in the amazing character of his wife, children and grandchildren….Uncle Mike no doubt was incredibly proud of them.
May Uncle Mike’s legacy and memory live on through the love and kindness you all show and share with others. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your families. May you find comfort in Mike’s memories, strength in the support of loved ones, and courage in each day forward.
With Love,
Ryan & Terra Ricci
Our deepest condolences to you and your family over the loss of Michele. We will keep you in our thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.
Tony my deepest sympathies to you and your family on the loss of your father. Passing along my thoughts and prayers.
Carmela,
Our deepest condolences go out to you and your family during this difficult time of mourning the loss of your beloved father. Everyone at Wilkinson PS is thinking of you and sending you love, support and strength as you deal with your tremendous loss.
Thinking of you – Wilkinson Staff
Josie, Carm and Morra Family,
I am so very sorry for your loss. My deepest condolences to all the family. May your husband/dad rest in eternal peace. It sounds like he was an amazing person. May all those loving memories you have of him bring you peace, comfort and strength, today and always. Sending you a big hug.
Nonno Mikey,
Words can not express the deep sadness that I am feeling. Through out all of the outcomes that I’ve have thought of you leaving was never going to be one of them. Although I have only been around for a short 13 years , you leaving is the most heartbreaking experience I’ve had. You have always changed my mood and made me laugh. Without you around my life feels incomplete.
You truly made everyone feel included and apart of our family. Losing you means apart of me will forever be gone.
Loving you forever and always your youngest, grandchild Carolina Rose
How do I narrow down the words to illustrate my father’s life when a paragraph cannot justify the impact Dad had on my life.
Everyone knew the caring and generous Dad I knew but few truly knew how far that generosity reached.
We had good times, not so good times, and times where we laughed till it hurt. The memories I have of you, the stories you told, the stories we could tell as a family, easily could fill a book.
You loved everyone you met in your own way, I saw you as a rock, physically, mentally and emotionally strong for not only yourself, but your family. You feared nothing, you attacked life.
You taught us to work hard, No one worked harder than you Dad, you taught me respect, ambition, initiative, and most of all love for my own family.
You tough me that if I could work with my hands that I would never starve. You also instilled that no matter what I do, education came first and it didn’t matter what I did as long as Iezceked being high school. Academically.
We did a lot of firsts together and as a family, and today is the first step towards the day when you Dad and I will be together again.
Love you Son
Danny
🧡❤️🩵