Caterina Elsa Canil, nee Sebellin, the pillar of our family, passed away on May 1st at the age of 97. She is survived by three loving sons, Jimmy (Joan), Norio (Debra) and Roy (Brigid). She treasured her twelve grandchildren, and in turn is treasured by them – Trevor, Maria, Roberto, Vincent, John, Catherine, Anna, Marco, Emma, John-Paul, Andrew, and James as well as seven great-grandchildren. She is survived by one sister, Pierena Parolin and numerous nieces and nephews in Canada and Italy. She was pre-deceased by her husband, Sebastiano, brother Giuseppe, and sisters Emma and Maria. Elsa was born on January 17, 1926, in Romano d’Ezzelino, Vicenza, Italy to Maria and Felice Sebellin. During the war years she learned the value of the Catholic Faith, hard work, hospitality, and kindness to others. In 1948, she married Sebastiano Guerino Canil. After crossing the Atlantic by ship, she arrived in Canada. After travelling by train to New Westminster in 1949, she was reunited with her husband. They settled into their house in 1952 where they welcomed many new Italian immigrants into their home with a bed and a hot meal – her kindness was never forgotten. Elsa raised three sons and remained in that home for seventy-one years. She maintained a beautiful vegetable and flower garden. Her beautiful smile greeted everyone, and she was always willing to help. Her volunteer work was widely recognized and appreciated at schools, Holy Spirit Parish, the Roma Hall and Queensborough Community Center. Prayers will be held at Holy Spirit Parish, 244 Lawrence Street, New Westminster, on Friday, May 12th at 8:00 pm. Funeral service will be on Saturday, May 13th at 10:00 am, with entombment to follow at Oceanview Burial Park, 4000 Imperial Street, Burnaby.
Services provided by Kearney Columbia-Bowell Funeral Home.