Siro Parolin passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family, at the age of 91. Siro was born on April 12, 1933 in Mussolente, Vicenza, Italy.
At 14 years of age, Siro left his family's home. First to work on a farm near Turin in the Piedmont Region of Italy, and then to work on a farm in Switzerland. In 1954, Siro travelled by boat and train to New Westminster in search of a life and opportunities not then available to him in post-war Italy. Not too long afterwards, he persuaded the love of his life, Pierina, not to return to Italy during a trip visiting family, and they together built a life in a house Siro literally built, including much of the furniture.
Siro was a loving, industrious, passionate, and beautiful man, with an extraordinary ability to create a special connection, and often a lifetime bond, with a disproportionate number of the people who came into his life. He had many and varied interests, including making wine every autumn, turning a corner lot in Coquitlam into a veritable farm and mini orchard (he was particularly proud of his tomatoes, fig trees and grafting skills, which resulted in far more apple varieties than trees), foraging for wild mushrooms, basket weaving, music, especially choral and opera, played loud, singing in numerous choirs, including The Italian Men's Choir of British Columbia, the Trevisani Choir and the Vancouver Italian Folk Chorus, playing traditional Italian card games with friends, and banquets at Roma Hall.
However, Siro's singular focus was, and his legacy is, his family. Left to cherish and honour his memory are Pierina, his wife of 64 years; his children, Dennis (Ashlyn), Paul (Tracy), David (Nicola) and Maria Anna (Marco); and the grandchildren he was so very proud of and who gave him so much joy, Dahlia, Dominic, Luke, Maleka, Tomaso, Alessia, Sophie and Ava. Siro is also survived by his brother Guerrino (Maria) and his sisters, Maria and Milena. Siro is predeceased by his parents, Giuseppe Parolin and Matilde Rech, his brothers, Antonio and Lorenzo, and his sister, Bruna.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday, August 15, at 10:00 am at the Parish of Saint Michael the Archangel, 9387 Holmes Street, Burnaby. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Vancouver Prostate Centre or the Royal Columbian Hospital.