It is with heavy hearts that we share the news that our beloved mother and grandmother, Elena Luca, passed away on April 18, 2018.

Elena was born on November 27, 1924, in Torano Castello, Cosenza, Italy, and passed away at the age of 93, in Kamloops, BC.

Elena is survived by her children, Rita (Umberto), and Bill (Modesta), and her nephew, Mario (Maria) who was like a son to her. She is also survived by her sisters in Italy, Mafalda and Lauretta, and her grandchildren, Gianni (Lucy), Francesco (Laura), Frank and David, and many other nieces, nephews and extended family around the world.

Elena was predeceased by her husband, Francesco, in 1994, as well as her mother (Maria), father (Vincenzo), sisters (Maria and Filomena) and brothers (Antonio and Giuseppe).

Elena and her children immigrated to Canada in 1960 where they joined her husband, Francesco, in Kamloops, BC. Her husband had immigrated to Canada a few years earlier to secure a job and a home and, together, Francesco and Elena started a new life in Canada. Until she passed away, Elena still lived in the same home on Poplar Street where she had raised her family.

Up until her later years, Elena was never idle. She loved to garden and there was nothing that she could not grow and get to flourish. She had a photographic memory, even in her recent years, so that she never needed written recipes and she remembered the names and years of birth of all her friends and family, even some of her old friends in Italy who she had not seen for over 70 years.

Elena enjoyed her visits with friends and family and her home was always open for a cup of coffee or a bite to eat. She was always willing to share what she had and one never left her house empty-handed or hungry.

It was Elena’s wish to stay in her own home as long as possible so the family is grateful to the staff at High Country Health who checked on her every day, her wonderful neighbours who kept an eye out for her, and her dear friend, Maria Vecchio, who visited regularly, and treated her like her own mother.

Elena had a great sense of humour and she loved to make people laugh. She would often tell jokes and funny anecdotes and continued to do so even after being admitted to the hospital emergency ward a week before her death. Elena practised her Catholic faith, and when her arthritis restricted her outings, she celebrated her faith by watching mass on television every day.

Go in peace, you’ve earned your sleep Your love in our hearts, we’ll eternally keep. Prayers will be recited on Thursday, April 26, 2018, at 7:00 pm at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church. Father Paul Simms will celebrate the Mass of Christian Burial on Friday, April 27, 2018 at 11:00 am at OLPH Church.

As per Elena’s wishes, she will be laid to rest near her husband at the Evergreen Mausoleum, Hillside Cemetery, Kamloops.

Should friends desire, donations in memory of Elena Luca to the Marjorie Willoughby Snowden Hospice Home, 72 Whiteshield Crescent South, Kamloops, BC, V2E 2S9, 250-372-1336, are appreciated.

Condolences may be expressed at www.schoeningfuneralservice.com

• Date : 2018-04-18
• Location : Kamloops, B.C.