Albert (Bert) Constante Piazza joined his beloved wife, Mona, in the presence of his Saviour, Jesus, surrounded by family on Friday, August 25, 2017 at the age of 90.
Mourning the loss of their father are Garry (Liz), Bonnie (Alan), Jim (Patsy), Sandy (Ben), Linda, Cheryl (Todd), Rob (Kumi) and Cindy (mother of Michelle and Mike).
Also, grandchildren Nic (Laurie), Jenny (Garrett), Tyler, Jason (Julie), Michelle (Gaston), Mike (Jessi), Elizabeth, Rachel (Stephen), Amy (Joe), Gayle, Curtis (Caitlyn), Andrew (Lyndsey), Jenny (Josh), Rishelle (Sean), Amanda (Steven), Cassie (Nigel) and Toddy (Zaria); and his eighteen great-grandchildren: Wyatt, Noelle, Rory, Norah, Fiona, Mikayla, Heidi, Darin, Blaik, Lexi, Ivey, Nash, Alex, Kinsley, Ryan, Rylee, Eden and London. Also left to cherish his memory is his sister, Rena as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
Predeceased by his loving wife, Mona, of 65 years, his parents, Benvenuto and Regina Piazza, his brothers Joe, Johnny and Frank and his sisters, Mary and Amelia.
Dad was born on January 24, 1927 in Walhachin, BC. There he spent his early years before moving to Kamloops with his family. He met and married his love, Mona, on June 16, 1951.
Throughout his life, Dad worked in a variety of places—Kamloops Bakery, CP Rail (clearing the tracks on the Kettle Valley Railway) and Dawson Construction—until he found his true niche at Westcoast Transmission Company (Spectra Energy) in 1958. He retired at the age of 62, having worked there for 32 years. Dad was a true jack-of-all-trades; he loved keeping busy, and was never content to just sit idle. So he began his new career doing maintenance at Aberdeen McDonalds, joining Mona who was also working there at the time. The staff room downstairs became known as “Bert’s Room”.
In September 1970, Dad and Mom purchased land near Mile High Lake and over the next number of years, with the help of his children, Dad built his family a log cabin from the ground up. He hand cut and peeled the logs and even fabricated the two wood stoves from scrap metal. His children and grand-children especially have fond memories of time spent at the family cabin and many others were able to enjoy this special place, such as friends, youth groups and foreign exchange students. At the age of 73 Dad fulfilled his lifelong dream and moved to the cabin. Over the next thirteen years Dad enjoyed cutting firewood, snowmobiling (his last ride was at 86!), and enjoying God’s creation. Dad developed a special connection with many of the area’s little forest animals such as ravens, whiskey jacks, rabbits and squirrels, and he continued to use his handyman skills helping his neighbors wherever needed. Due to health reasons, Dad moved back to town where he joined Mom at Ponderosa Place, spending their remaining years together.
He will be greatly missed by all who knew him.
A Celebration of Life will take place Saturday, September 9, 2017, 11:00 am at our family cabin. For directions email Cheryl at tcgrant64@gmail.com
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to: Northern Canada Evangelical Mission (ncem.ca), PO Box 3030, Prince Albert, SK S6V 7V4
12 Tributes
My deepest condolonces on your loss so soon after your Mom-God bless you all!
I had the pleasure of chatting with your dear father when he was out and about walking near Ponderosa Place…he always brightened my day, when he would take the time to chat while I was working in the area.(I manage the parking lots in the surrounding areas) I do hope that his next journey is amazing and full of love, endless light and beauty. My condolences to all of you…
Dear Uncle Bert, you were a fun loving, happy guy and I have so many memories when I was a child, looking after Prince is one of my favourites, visiting your family when all the kids were little tops the list, you are with Aunty Mona now so rest in peace, your niece Gloria
Thank you Gloria! Your family was always a big part of our family growing up! Will be praying that Aunty Rena joins them soon! Love. Bonnie
Thanks Merle!
Bonnie
Dad loved to go for his walks and always told us of people he would meet along the way! Thank you for taking the time to talk with ‘a little old man’!
Bonnie
We met your Dad when years ago we purchased and built our cabin up at Paska Lake. He always had the solution or the part or bolt or whatever you needed to fix something. Always enjoyed our chats on the roadway when he was out walking with his dogs.
Our condolences to your family.
To Rob and family, you have my deepest
sympathises & condonations to you.
I remember Bert & Mona very well
they always made my day working
at McDonald’s.
Mona& her smile and jokes
and Bert always fixing
something at McDonald’s
God bless you and your family
DALE DEMMANS
We met Bert, 1981 in Savona, BC. A very amazing tradesman, gentle, skilled, patient and kind person. He was the most influential work related mentor in my life, carrying over into many other areas of life. Thank you Bert. I think of you often. Thank you for the many colorful memories. Your presence here will certainly be missed. To your family, our hearts are with you.
I was so sorry to read of Bert’s passing the the paper. My son and I used to meet Bert when were were walking dogs in Peterson Creek Park. He always had a treat for our dogs which they loved. We would have a nice chat which was most enjoyable. We have missed him the last while and so sorry that we won’t be seeing him again.
Our condolences to you all. A wonderful man. He will leave a huge void in your lives.
Our condolences to your family. Bert was our neighbor at Paska for 27 years and we have fond memories of him. His tinkering, his enjoyment of the area, his gentle and happy nature. He will be remembered each time we see his beloved cabin.
Dear Bert’s Family….how do we begin to send our condolences to your family. We knew Bert up at Mile High where we had a cabin at Face Lake. We went up on all our Spring/Summer and most winter holidays. We made sure that every visit to our cabin that Bert would come over and enjoy dinner at our home at least 3 nights in the week that we were there. Bert was a so special to us…he practically saw our two boys grow up over the 10 years we owned our cabin. We mailed Bert a Christmas Card on Dec. 13th and so hoped that he was well and would receive it. When we called on Christmas Day as we have done for the past 10 years…we were so sad to get a not in service response. We wanted all of Bert’s family to know that we are deeply saddened and that Bert was a very special Man to us….like a father. He was a truly kind and humble man who sometimes even in his 80’s would shovel our cabin deck when we were not at our cabin. We loved chatting with Bert and having him over. I always tried to send him home with food….even though I never thought that I was a good cook however, Bert would always tell me he loved my food. We are so saddened today to learn of his passing. Wish we could’ve spoken to him on one more Christmas Day. Never had the opportunity to meet his lovely wife, Mona…she must have also been a very special Mom..Grandma/Great Grandma. Please know that even though we are strangers, we loved your Dad/Grandpa/Great Grandpa very much and will miss him every day. He was a special man. We will never forget him….Love Darren, Susan, Colby and Tyler Bilawchuk….friends from Face Lake/Mile High.