Olga Louise Pugliese
elevated GHR5g November 4, 1941 ~ March 23, 2025
elevated GHR5g Visitation
Thursday, March 27, 2025 from 2 – 4 & 6 – 8 pm
elevated GHR5g Holy Cross Catholic Funeral Home
211 Langstaff Road East, Thornhill, ON, L3T 3Z6
elevated GHR5g Funeral Service
Friday, March 28, 2025 at 10:30 am
elevated GHR5g Chapel of St. Joseph – Holy Cross Catholic Funeral Home
elevated GHR5g Click Here to View the Funeral Service
elevated GHR5g Interment
Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery
8361 Yonge Street, Thornhill, ON, L3T 2C7
elevated GHR5g Section: 20
elevated GHR5g Obituary
Olga Pugliese (née Zorzi), Professor Emerita, University of Toronto passed on Sunday, March 23, 2025 at Sunnybrook Health Centre after a year-long battle with advanced Ovarian cancer. Olga was predeceased by her late husband Guido Pugliese, brother Fred Zorzi, brothers-in-law Ivano Bortolussi, Leo Presacco, Angelo Pugliese and sister-in-law Marika Pugliese. She is survived by sisters Mary Bortolussi and Velma Presacco, sisters-in-law Susan Zorzi, Mary Pugliese and Rose Pugliese and brothers-in-law Mario Pugliese and Joe Pugliese. She will be remembered by nieces and nephews: Gerry Bortolussi (Catherine McMonagle), Elaine Martini (Joe), Arlene Pontisso (Lody), Steven Presacco (Danik), Rochelle Zorzi (Brad Milburn), Sandro Zorzi (Michelle), Rose Ann Andolina (Sam), Michael Pugliese (Carmela), Sandra Berardi (Frank), Emilio Pugliese (Etsuko), Nushee Montanari (Mark), Christina Chiefalo (Pat), Paola Marrelli (Domenic), Daniela Pugliese (Martin Hendrie), 25 great nieces and nephews, as well as a great-grandnephew, Austin Pontisso and twin great-grandnieces, Sienna and Savannah Pontisso. Born in 1941, Professor Emerita Olga Zorzi Pugliese enjoyed a 45-year career teaching at the University of Toronto where she also held various administrative positions. She served as Chair of the Department of Italian Studies1997-2002 and as Director of the Centre for Renaissance and Reformation Studies (Victoria University) from 2006-2009. An active member of the profession, she was elected President of the Canadian Society for Italian Studies (2005-2008). Her scholarly work focused on Renaissance Italian literature and culture and included studies on Castiglione and Machiavelli and many other writers. In the latter decades she engaged in research on the contribution of Italians in Canada. Many of her publications in the field focused on mosaic artwork in Canada by Italian-Canadians and the artist Chiarandini. Olga regretted not being able to complete some projects, but was happy to have been able to write a family history in 2023, tracing the ancestry of the families of her four grandparents in the Italian region of Friuli. Some years ago, a journalist had written about her “three souls” Canadian, Italian and Friulian. Together with her husband, Guido Pugliese, she promotes Italian culture by endowing scholarship (in perpetuity) for studying In Italy. They were established in various institutions: Victoria College (University of Toronto), the University of Toronto Mississauga, and Western University. She also endowed the course in Italian Canadian Studies now offered annually in the Canadian Studies Program at University College and in the Department of Italian Studies, University of Toronto.
elevated GHR5g A special thank you to nurse Honnee Jean Trasporto for providing excellent care during Olga’s final few months and Dr. Ni and staff of the Palliative Care Unit at Sunnybrook Health Center. In lieu of flowers, donations would be appreciated to either of two Pugliese scholarship Funds: Office of Alumni Affairs and Advancements, Victoria University in the University of Toronto, 150 Charles Street West, 3rd Floor, Toronto Ontario M5S 1K9 (payable to Victoria University) https://my.alumni.utoronto.ca/Pugliese Click Here to Donate or Office of Advancement, University of Toronto Mississauga, 3359 Mississauga Road North, Mississauga, ON L5L 1C6 (payable to the University of Toronto Mississauga) https://uoft.me/UTM-Pugliese-Italy-Scholarship Click Here to Donate
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Deepest condolences from the Colussi Arthur family. We’re away and will miss the visitation and funeral. Olga had been one of my professors at UT St George and then a longtime colleague. A outstanding academic, she will be deeply missed.
Riposa in Pace carissima Olga.
Sentite condoglianze ai tuoi cari
Famiglia Del Giudice Sergio (Bepo) con Aurora.
Famiglia Lorenzon Tarcisio, Lucia
Famiglia Zamarian Alessandro, Romina
Famiglia Chiappino Luca, Silvia
I find myself without words in this moment. Olga’s work and her example of magnanimous collegiality has always been an inspiration to me. She will be greatly missed.
Olga was a remarkable person and a dear friend, I have many fond memories of our times together. There will be a big hole in the world without her.
I offer my deepest sympathy to the Pugliese family on their loss.
Frank Nuessel
AATI President (2012-2014)
Olga was a dear friend, kind, generous, intelligent, educated, a great lady.
May she rest in peace!
Sincere condoglianze a tutti i parenti dal Friuli, Vittorino e Neva Comuzzi e famiglia.
Sending all our love and sincerest condolences.
I was heartbroken to hear of Olga’s passing. She was such a meaningful part of our family—wise, warm, and deeply generous in spirit. Her presence brought grace, intelligence, and kindness into every gathering, and her loss leaves a deep emptiness that words can’t fully capture.
Beyond her remarkable academic legacy, Olga lived with purpose and heart. Her passion for Italian culture, and her dedication to education, were truly inspiring. I will always treasure the memories we shared and the lasting impact she had on our family.
Please know that my thoughts are with everyone who loved her. May her memory continue to guide and comfort us.
Ti ricorda con affetto un amico dell’anno 1968 -69 allora in Canada, poi dall’ Italia e dal Friuli.
Angelo Bertolo
Olga did so much for the Italian community here in Canada.
For that we should be so wonderfully honoured and extremely grateful
My sincere condolences to Olga’s family for this great loss. Olga’s work lives on and has inspired so many of us. She will be deeply missed.
Olga’s passing saddens me. She was an exceptional professor whose knowledge greatly enriched the lives of countless students, shaping their understanding and appreciation of Italian cultures. Her invaluable contributions to our community will resonate for years to come. Olga earned my utmost respect, and I will feel her absence profoundly. My deepest condolences to the family, friends, and all who appreciate her.
My most sincere condolences to those who loved and cherished, and shared and collaborated with Dr. Pugliese. I never had the chance to meet or learn from her directly, but I know that my time at U of T, both as a student and as an instructor, were directly affected by her influence and inspiration. Her name and presence were everywhere, and students and colleagues will forever benefit for her contributions and spirit to the Italian program. Grazie, Professoressa. Wishing her loved ones peace and comfort in this challenging time.
Condolences to Olga’s family and beloved ones. She was a real treasure; a gem of a person with a wealth of knowledge about the history of the Italian community in Toronto. Her passion for the Italian mosaics in town was truly inspiring.
Che la terra ti sia lieve, cara Olga.
The Consulate General of Italy in Toronto expresses the deepest condolences to the family. Prof. Zorzi Pugliese has been a powerful pillar of the Italian-Canadian community in Ontario. It is a very sad moment. Everyone will miss her expertise, knowledge about the history and the contributions of the Italian diaspora to Canada, her kind and generous attitude.
The Consul General Luca Zelioli and the whole staff.
Sentite condoglianze.
Olga was a rare breed of academic – an outstanding scholar and teacher, plus an extremely well-organized administrator. I had the honour of having her as my professor for two Renaissance humanism courses when I was in graduate school. She was also graduate chair that year and was very helpful to me. Grazie tanto, carissima Olga!
Le mie piu sincere condoglianze alla sua famiglia e a tutti i suoi amici e colleghi.
Impossibile riflettere sui miei anni alla University of Toronto e non pensare alla Professoressa Zorzi Pugliese. Mi ha servito di docente modello quando pensavo di entrare anch’io nella professione e mi ricorderò sempre dell’appoggio e dell’incoraggiamento che mi aveva dato tutti quegli anni fa mentre cominciavo a fare ricerca in linguistica. Che la terra le sia lieve, Professoressa; riposi in pace.
Apprendere della scomparsa della professoressa Olga Zorzi Pugliese mi ha profondamente rattristato. Il suo insegnamento e la sua passione per la lingua e letteratura italiana hanno lasciato un segno indelebile in tutti noi. le mie più sincere condoglianze alla famiglia e a tutti coloro che hanno avuto il privilegio di conoscerla. Riposa in pace.
Sentite condoglianze.