Peter (Pa) was great at the one-liners. As I left home for Australia, he took me aside and told me “Empty stomach, empty head”. I understood immediately what he meant.

Peter knew what was important. Family (Anna, Jack and Lena), work and the simplicity of life. He loved the sun -he could always be seen outside, whether mowing the lawn or sitting on the porch. He also loved his birth place of San Marco Evangelista, Caserta, Italy where many changes occurred over his lifetime. He always wondered what happened to the migrating birds of Africa?

Peter witnessed great changes in the world and helped to build a new country. He poured concrete in sub-zero temperatures and one time forgot to tuck his ear in his hat, it suffered a bit of frost bite. It was a ‘badge of honour’ to have a rock-hard upper ear. Peter later became known as the ‘King of the Coal Yard’ at Ontario Hydro Lakeview Generating Station which no longer exists, but he helped illuminate parts of northern New York State and Southern Ontario for 28 years.

I turn on the lights and think of him now and again. There will always be signs of Dad but the strongest one will be through the lessons he taught me and my brother, Jack, and passed to his grandchildren: Jake, Alice, Peter and Sam. What Nonno can say is live simply, focus correctly and ‘don’t sit on your laurels’ -preferably while enjoying a glass of wine! You don’t know what life will hand you.

Look to the sun . . . a bird of flight has soared!

In lieu of flowers, donations to the Sick Kids Foundation in honour of Pietro would be appreciated by the family.

This Funeral will be LIVE STREAMED on Friday September 18, 2020 at 2:30pm(a link will be available at 2:15 p.m.).