ZANETTE, Luciano - (October 27th, 1944 - October 10, 2021) -
Luciano was born October 27th, 1944 in Azzano Decimo, Provincia di Pordenone in Friuli Venezia Giulia, Italy.
One of the few boasts he ever uttered was that he was born a lofty 12lbs, although highly suspect, having being born at home and likely having been compared to a sack of potatoes.
He happily recounted numerous stories from his time growing up on the farm. His is most popular story was that of leading the Brahma bulls out to the drinking trough, by their nose rings… given that the bulls towered over him, that must have been quite a site.
He immigrated to Canada at age 7, and settled into the Toronto area, along with multiple other cousins and their families. He attested to many struggles as a young immigrant including some rough treatment by the local kids. Needless to say, those who knew my father and were aware of his stature would understand that after his adolescent growth spurt, this mal-treatment ceased rather suddenly.
He attended various schools, including De La Salle College and it was here that his love for sports took hold… having participated in football, basketball and hockey… all of which became a lifelong love for him. He decided to take up a trade and became a Master Plumber and thus began a career to which he was dedicated and highly respected. His hard work and knack for numbers led to an office position where he became chief purchaser for Zentil, further solidifying his polished reputation in the plumbing community.
His latter years found him at Rona, which allowed him to be the ‘no stress, go to guy’ when it came to solving plumbing problems. Everyone looked for Lou as he was able to offer practical and sound advice based on the plethora of knowledge he built from experience over many years.
Early in his working career, he met his life partner, Lydia with whom he had two sons, Paul and Daniel… thus beginning the next stage of his life as husband and father; both of which he excelled at with relative ease. Not to say that things were always rosy, but true to form, he was able to navigate any rough waters that surfaced and always kept his focus on what truly mattered… his family.
All this practice over the years, allowed him to hone his skills for his ultimate role as doting grandfather. From hockey to baseball to soccer to dance, along with birthdays and other celebrations, he truly enjoyed his grandkids, which were the apple of his eye.
Over his life, Lou became identified as a man of few words but whose actions spoke volumes. He never uttered an unkind word about anyone, despite having occasion to do so, and he never looked to start ‘trouble’; always seeking to ‘make things right’. He was the epitome of a gentle giant who truly enjoyed the simple things in life: family, friends and a good meal. However, everyone who knew Lou was keenly aware that his true passion was fishing. From time spent with his father, to time spent with his boys and grandchildren, to time spent on ‘big fishing jaunts’ to James Bay, Quebec and British Columbia, he was in his glory when he had a fishing rod in his hand, thigh high in running water. He became quite proficient at tying ‘flys’ and this became both a hobby and a therapeutic focus that carried him through a variety of unfortunate illnesses over the latter portion of his life.
We often joked that he was a ‘walking medical textbook’, but despite these significant illnesses he would always battle with an inner strength that would shine through and often make those who came to comfort him actually feel better once they left. He always had a smile, a kind word and a quick quip… and he was always more interested in hearing about other people's lives than his own. He never spoke of his own problems or troubles and he never gave up on life and fought hard to the end. His memory will always live on in the calm, gentle and loving demeanor he always exuded and we will always remember that ‘twinkle in his eye’ and his love for life.
He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Lydia, his two sons Paul and Daniel, his daughters-in-law Linda and Wendy and his four grandchildren Mark, Stephen, Hayley and Kaitlyn. He will be remembered and cherished by us all, as well as by extended family and friends who enjoyed his company over the years.
A private family viewing will be held. A Memorial Mass will be held at a later date. Arrangements are entrusted with Thompson funeral home, Aurora.
In lieu of flowers contributions in Luciano's memory may be made to Hill House Hospice, 36 Wright Street, Richmond Hill, Ontario CA, https://hillhousehospice.com/.
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