LUIGI MESSERSI CICCHINELLI
August 17, 1935 – April 8, 2017
I was born Luigi Messersi in Roma, Italy at 4 a.m. on August 17, 1935.
My mother’s name was Marcella Messersi, and she passed away in January 1936.
I was adopted, moved to Pescosolido, and raised by Giuseppe Cicchinelli.
I married my childhood sweetheart, Maria (nee Iaboni) on February 17, 1957.
We sailed aboard the Queen Frederica with our first born Armando, and arrived at Pier 21 in Halifax on July 1, 1958 and settled in Toronto.
I began working on July 7, applying my craft as a painter that I was taught in Italy, and carved out a career in a new land.
I worked for Robert Simpson Company for many years before starting out on my own. The clients at Simpsons always requested Luigi for their homes, so I named my new company “Luigi’s Colour Magic”. My business flourished for 20 years. I truly loved my craft, but there are so many other things that I loved.
I loved to read about anything and everything.
I loved art in all of its wonderful forms: sculpture, music, architecture, ancient ruins, drama, opera, painting, and dancing.
I loved history, geography, politics, science, and technology.
I loved nature, to garden, to be outdoors, animals and pets of all kinds: dogs, cats, birds, fish, rabbits.
I loved to travel and to learn about different cultures.
I loved soccer, Juventus, The World Cup.
I loved the Original Six, but especially the Montreal Canadiens.
I loved people. All people. Every colour, creed, nationality, and religion.
I believed that all people are created equal, no matter the gender, and I taught my children to be the same.
I am Luigi Messersi Cicchinelli, and today, Saturday, April 8, 2017 at 5:20 a.m. I bid you all farewell and say I love you forever to:
My loving wife of 60 years, Maria (nee Iaboni).
My children, the late Armando Cicchinelli (Angela), Marcello Messersi (Nadia), Joe Messersi (Anthea), Maria Luisa Pecorelli (John).
I will forever watch over who I have loved and treasured the most, my grandchildren, Silvano (Javaneh), Lisa, Julia, Lola, Armando, Rita, Enelyse, Jasmin, Vanessa (Dave), and my great-grandson Nico.
“If as we’re walking a hand should slip free,
I’ll wait for you, and should I fall behind, wait for me.”
Visitation will be held on Monday, April 10, 2017 from 4-8 p.m. at the R.S. Kane Funeral Home (6150 Yonge St., at Goulding, south of Steeles). A Funeral Mass will be held on Tuesday, April 11, 2017 at 2 p.m. at St. Edward the Confessor Roman Catholic Church (75 Churchill Ave.). Private Entombment Forest Lawn Mausoleum. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Canadian Cancer Society . Condolences www.rskane.ca.