Larry Zaurrini
Hello there……….
This world will be quieter and less well fed as a result of our loss. It is with great sadness that we announce the death of a loving husband, beloved father, cherished Nonno and great friend. Larry will be lovingly remembered for his great sense of community, his abilities in the kitchen and his big heart. A founding father of the Italian Cultural Centre, Larry loved doing for others, for his friends and family and especially for the community.
He was born and educated in Celano, Italy in 1945. In 1966, he emigrated to Canada in search of a better life for himself, this is where he met his wife Judy (nee Stefanucci) and raised his three children Sante (Linda), Tina (Claudio Suraci) and Filippo (Angela).
His most recent project was his cabin in Sunshine Valley which was completed only recently. This is where he planned to spend his retirement years entertaining his family, numerous friends and the pride of life, his grandchildren, Nicole, Nico, Stefani, Giuliana and Moreno. No expense was spared to make the cabin some place the entire family and his dearest friends could enjoy safely together.
Larry is predeceased by his parents, Sante and Agata Zaurrini, and his parents-in-law, Luigi and Onora Stefanucci. He is survived by his sister, Concetta (Stefano), and brothers Giancarlo (Luisa), and Ezio (Angela), his brother-in-law Andy, sisters-in-law Lucy and Loreta and dearest friends Tony & Angela.
Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, March 20, 2009 at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church, 525 Slocan Street, Vancouver. Entombment to follow at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Burnaby.
We find solace in the fact that his death was sudden and that he was doing something he loved to do, hiking with his dear friends Carlo and Jorge and his brother Giancarlo.
In lieu of flowers, donations to the Heart and Stroke Foundation are appreciated. Condolences may be offered to the family at www.bellburnaby.com
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To the family – Our warmest thoughts and condolences. Beyond the business world I knew Larry as a genuinely good guy and very special to deal with. He always wanted a good fair deal for everyone involved. His loss to this world is the next world’s gain. May you always cherish the memories that keep you as a family.
Charlie S
Please accept our sincerest condolences for the loss of your beloved Loreto (Larry). Our thoughts and prayers are with you. Sincerely, Staff @ Scotiabank, 1st & Renfrew Branch.
IT WAS A BIG SHOCK AND SADNESS TO HERE ABOUT THE
LOSE OF A FRIEND AND PAESANO WHO WILL BE MISSED
BY THE COMMUNITY…..
OUR HEARTS GO OUT TO JUDY AND THE REST OF THE
FAMILY
My deepest condolences…my thoughts and prayers are with you all during this difficult time. I will always remember your father at all of the banquets at the Italian Centre….always with a smile on his face. He was one of the first to welcome me to the group at the centre. He will truly be missed!
We are devastated to hear of Larry’s passing. He was such a wonderful, happy person, always gracious to all. Please take care, and hug your family.
Janis and Bob Clark (both formerly of A. Webb Electric Ltd)
With heavy heart Terry, Jack and the crew of Southhill Electric send our deepest condolence to the family of our dear friend and business associate.
Larry’s smile and warm personalty will be sadly missed.
God bless you my friend, until we meet again.
Terry Spargo
Desideriamo in questo triste momento porgere le nostre piu sentite condoglianze a moglie e figli di questo nostro grande amico da sempre che lascia con la sua perdita un vuoto in tutti noialtri che difficilmente si potra colmare.Con affetto Elio,Ivan Quattrocchi e famiglie.
Dear Judy, Sante, Tina, Filippo e famiglie:
“Hello there…” Loreto,s salutation was a trade mark. We are at loss with words to express our shock for his premature passing. Loreto was a very good man and a good friend. I have known him since 1988 and always felt close to him, for his freindship, his smile, his warmth and his generosity. Good people will be remembered as a blessing to us from God. Loreto was a special man, not only to his lovely family, but to the whole Italian community. We will always remember him. We think of you in this difficult time and hope you will find some consolation in the fact that he leaves behind a powerful legacy of love.
Le nostre piu’ sentite condoglianze.
Franco, Cindy, Antonio & Giorgio Mammarella
We are very sorry for your loss. Our Prayers will be with you today.
Lean on your friends for strength, and always remember how much you are cared about.
Our family wishes to send you our deepest condolence
We are so very sorry to hear about your loss. Our prayers go out to you all.
Judy and family,
It is with a heavy heart we write this as all we can remember is the fun we had with Larry and Judy in Sunshine Valley. He was so proud of what he built for his family and was really looking forward to the years ahead of parties in the valley that he would be part of. Especially bringing his Italian flavour to them because as he said “no one does it like the Italian’s”.
We will truly miss his warm welcoming smile and the valley will not be the same without him in it. We wish we could be there to personally say goodbye but Maria just had spinal surgery on Monday and not be able to make it. Larry is in our hearts and our prayers are with the family today and the weeks to come as you go through a very rough time.
Gian, Maria and familglia Scuor
To all of the Zaurrini Family !
My sincerest condolences. I feel very fortunate to have met Mr.. Zaurrini both in a business & a social setting. He was a wonderful man, very professional & extremely knowledgeable with a very friendly smile. I am sure he will be missed but at the same time I am sure you will have many wonderful memories.
Warmest regards
Ed Kennedy
Larry exuded an immeasurable amount of kindness, loyalty and generosity. He will be missed not only as our respected client, but also as our friend. We are very saddened by the loss of Larry.
Our thoughts are with his family and friends of which it is apparent that he had many.
Fil,
My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family at this time. I know that you and your family are very important to Mark and Liz and all our sentiments are with you at this time.
God Bless,
Marlene
We are so sorry, upon hearing of Larry’s passing. Sincere condolences to both families. May God be with you to give you strength at this time and in the future. Sergio Susin and the Susin Family
To the Zaurrini Family,
It is with great sorrow that we hear of your loss. We extend out deepest sympathy.
“In capo a tutti c’e’ Dio padrone del cielo. Questo ognuno lo sa. Poi viene il Principe Torlonia, padrone della terra. Poi vengono le guardie del principe. Poi vengono i cani delle guardie del Principe. Poi, nulla. Poi, ancora nulla. Poi, ancora nulla. Poi vengono i cafoni. E si puo’dire ch’é finito.”
Questo e’il passo piu’ famoso del capolavoro di Ignazio Silone, Fontamara. Non lo cito a caso, era il romanzo che Loreto Zaurrini aveva letto e riletto qui a Vancouver. Narrava la storia dei “cafoni” d’Abruzzo, del Principe Torlonia e del prosciugamento del lago Fucino, delle lotte contadine nella sua Marsica da cui lui era partito nel 1965. La sua passione per Silone era stata al centro della nostra prima vera conversazione nel 1999. Mi aveva raccontato delle difficolta’ nella sua Celano degli anni sessanta, del fatto che si sentiva un po’come l’ultimo di quelli spinti a partire prima che il boom economico toccasse anche l’Abruzzo. Poi mi aveva parlato delle sue lotte per la comunita’italiana di Vancouver. Mentre parlava, ricordo che ancora si appassionava (lui avrebbe utilizzato un altro verbo), ormai a distanza di decenni, per quello che aveva sofferto per la costruzione del Centro Culturale Italiano di Vancouver e, mentre mi raccontava dei sui sforzi e delle sue battaglie qui in British Columbia , pensavo a quanto Celano avesse perso e Vancouver avesse guadagnato dalla sua decisione di venire qui in Canada.
Conosco bene le sue radici. Loreto era nato a Celano 63 anni fa, in una cittadina abruzzese di 11.000 abitanti. Celano sorge sulle rive di quello che era il lago del Fucino, ha il castello piu’importante della Marsica ed e’un posto dove tutti conoscono tutti, dove la gente e’ vera e le tradizioni sono vive. E’ anche un posto dove la parola data ha un valore enorme e tutti quelli che lo hanno conosciuto sanno di cosa stia parlando.
Loreto era una persona buona, dal cuore grande, un uomo forte e generoso proprio come il suo Abruzzo, un uomo pronto ad aiutare chi poteva essere in difficolta’. Non dimentichero’ mai cosa mi disse, incoraggiandomi nove anni fa, mentre mi accingevo ad aprire il mio ufficio di consulenza finanziaria: “Ernesto, non ti preoccupare: tutte le cose grandi sono state piccole all’inizio”.
Infatti, anche Loreto aveva inziato dal nulla e dal nulla ha creato la Holaco, una prestigiosa impresa del settore immobiliare, dal nulla era diventato uno dei principali fautori del Centro Culturale Italiano all’inizio degli anni settanta. Nei nuovi arrivati vedeva lo spirito che lo aveva animato quando si era dovuto battere contro l’establishment della comunita’italiana di Vancouver.
Ricordo con affetto la sua voce calda, matura, quasi paterna, quando lo chiamavo: ‘Loretooo!!!’ esclamavo e lui rispondeva “Aheee’ Ernestooo!”
Non ci dicevamo nemmeno “pronto?” o “ciao”, andava sempre cosi’: Loretooo!!!….Aheee Ernestooo!!!
Mi aveva mandato un messaggio lo scorso 24 Febbraio, stava preparando una borsa di studio per gli abruzzesi di Vancouver con il Circolo Abruzzese e voleva che fossi nella commissione che deve giudicare i lavori.
Appena ricevuto il messaggio per la borsa di studio, lo ho chiamato sul cellulare e, non ho detto, come al solito, nemmeno “hello?”.
E’andata cosi’: “’Loretooo! come noooo?, siii”. Lui ha risposto “aheee Ernestooo lo sapevo…”
Fine, in pratica, della nostra ultima conversazione. Lui sapeva a cosa mi riferissi ed io anche. Tra abruzzesi montanari, spesso, le parole sono inutili. Quello che conta e’il tono, il modo e la convinzione in cui sono espresse. Non dovevo dire: “caro Loreto, grazie per il messaggio che mi hai inviato. Sono lieto di aderire alla tua proposta relativa alla commissione per la borsa di studio”. E’ bastato dire”Aheeee, Loretooo, come no?”. E lui non ha dovuto rispondere “sono veramente lieto che tu abbia recepito la mia proposta relativa etc…”. Ha detto solo: “lo sapevo”.
Cinque giorni prima di lasciarci, Loreto e’passato in ufficio e,purtroppo, non mi ha trovato.
Qualche giono dopo con suo fratello Giancarlo e due amici, Carlo e Jorge, in una domenica di fine inverno, e’andato a fare quello che da buon abruzzese amava: e’andato in montagna.
Questa volta il suo grande cuore lo ha abbandonato.
Loretoooo…
Purtroppo, dall’altra parte nessuno mi dira’ piu’ “aheee Ernestooo”.
Ernesto Salvi
May God be with all of you during this healing time. We are so sorry for your loss. Loreto (Larry) was a great man and an asset to everyone he met. He will be greatly missed by all. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all. Remember God only takes the good ones for a reason, It may be to help everyone he left behind.
God Bless.
Tiziana (Grespan), Nick Maselli & Family,
To all of the Zaurrini family:
We are shocked and saddened at Larry’s sudden passing. He was such a warm, generous, honest man who always had a grin and “Hello there” when I saw him. His love for food, family and friends were certain limitless and when you worked with Larry, you were working with a friend. We will truly miss him and we extend our deepest sympathy to all of the Zaurrini family.
To Judy & family
Our deepest sympathy to you & your family on
a great loss. May God be with you all
through this difficult time.
John & Ginetta Spagnuolo (Ricci)
Sante , Fil, Claudio and Families,
My deepest sympathies on the loss of your father, friend and mentor. Although my contact with Larry was limited, I always found him friendly and smiling. His generous nature and cooking talents were always on display for us to see at the annual Christmas open house. This appreciation for his friends and business associates was unparalleled. He will be missed.
Warmest Regards,
Terry Begner
Dear Judy and family,
It was with deep shock that we learned of Larry’s passing this morning in the BC Catholic. We are truly saddened by his untimely death and will always remember his welcoming and wonderful smile. May warm memories keep him ever near you.
Kathleen and Terry Wallden (cabin A27)
Agosto 2008 ho avuto il piacere di conoscere tuo nipote, con tutti questi anni non ho avuto mai la possibilita di conoscerti di persona, ma la storia sia di riferimento a tutti noi
Gianni Zaurrini