It is with sad and heavy hearts that we announce the peaceful passing of our beloved, beautiful and courageous wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt and friend. Born in Italy, the eldest of 7 children of Enrico and Caterina Cappozzo, she learned the value of hard work, both on the family’s rugged fields and in the family business. In 1957 with a steamer trunk and two small boys in tow, she left Italy to emigrate to Canada. After a three-week journey across the ocean and North America she joined her husband Ermenegildo (Gildo) and with the addition of another son, settled down to raise their family in Dawson Creek. In 1985 after a lifetime of work, she and Gildo both retired to Surrey to be close to their children. Maria is survived by Gildo, her husband of 73 years and her sons Bortolo (Bort) and daughter-in law Judy, Franco and daughter-in law Barbara, Gerry and partner Diane as well as 6 grandchildren Carmen (Valerio), Aaron (Eunice), Robert (Danyelle), Catherine (Mitchell), Patrick and Andrew and 3 great-grand children (Matteo, Oliver and Charles) with 1 more on the way. She is also survived by a sister, 2 brothers and numerous nieces and nephews in Italy. Maria will be missed by all who knew and loved her, and remembered for her kindness, courage and caring heart. She loved her family more than anything and her legacy of amazing cooking skills and recipes will be treasured forever. The family would like to especially thank the nurses and care staff on the Magnolia floor at the Pointe in Evergreen Baptist Campus of Care, White Rock for their amazing care and compassion of both Maria and Ermenegildo where they resided for the last 2 years. A memorial Mass will be celebrated on August 31, 2018 at 10:30 a.m. at the Good Shepherd Catholic Church, 2250-150th St., White Rock. Messages of condolences can be left for the family at www.kearneyfs.com