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Sunday, June 4, 2023
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Giulio G. Caldarelli was
born in a small mountainous town, Santo Stefano di Sessanio, in
the Province of Aquila in Central Italy, in 1921.
His father, Domenico, had immigrated to Canada at the beginning
of the century and with his earned savings was able to buy land
in his home town and build a comfortable home for his family.
Giulio and his brothers, Michele and Mario, as well as his father,
Domenico, were farmers.
When war was declared in Italy, Giulio was drafted and served
his county well. In 1946, after the war, Giulio |
Giulio and Elena Caldarelli's wedding, 1946. Courtesy of Domenica
Mandarino
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married Elena Gallina and the following
year they had a daughter, Domenica. Giulio continued to farm, but
post war Italy offered no hope for improvement. In 1951, Giulio
decided to immigrate to Canada. In June 1951, he landed |
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Pier 21 and proceeded to Windsor, where he joined his cousin’s
family. Within a few days he was able to find a job in the construction
industry. As time passed, he found living apart from his family hard.
On February 2, 1956 his wife and daughter embarked on the
same journey he had undertaken five years earlier. The family settled
on Louis Ave. in a house that Giulio had bought. The following year,
the family was elated at the addition of a son, Michael. |
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Life revolved around the Italian
community, St. Angela Merici Church and its clubs. Giulio became a
member of the Holy Name Society, Elena joined the Christian Mothers
Society, Domenica became an active member of the Youth Clubs and Choir,
and Michael joined the Altar Boys Society.
In the late 1960s, Giulio left the construction industry and got
a “bona
jobba”, as everyone said at that time,
as a caretaker with the School Board. |
Giulio, Elena, Domenica (the daughter) and Michael Caldarelli (the
son) in the graduation ceremony of their daughter as a registered
nurse. Courtesy of Domenica Mandarino. |
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In 1970, he was very proud to see his daughter,
Domenica, graduate as a Registered Nurse and to see both his children
marry. Domenica was married to Florindo Mandarino and Michael to Maria
Russo. |
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| As time went by, Giulio
would tell his grandchildren stories of his home town and Elena
would teach her granddaughters how to make pizzelle.
Giulio and Elena Caldarelli (like all other immigrants) had
the courage to leave their birth land and to venture out across
an
ocean, not knowing what awaited them on their journey.
Giulio Caldarelli died in 1996. |
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The
opinions and interpretations in this publication are those of the author
and do not necessarily reflect those of the Government of Canada. |
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