On January 8th, 2011 Maria Cundari passed away with her loving family at her side. We all miss our mother and nana.

Maria Cundari was born on October 26, 1926, to parents Giovanni and Carmela Russo in Rende, Cosenza, Italy. She grew up in a large family on a farm in the sunny climate of southern Italy where family and friends meant everything.

Her husband Domenico predeceased her in 1997 after 50 years of marriage, and she never got over his absence from her daily life.

She is survived by her daughter Carmela (Dean) Huston, her son Russell (Maria) Cundari, her son Larry (Lisa) Cundari, her six grandchildren: Wallace (Alecia Karapita) Huston, Sarah (Scott) Trudeau, Laura (Kinji Bourchier) Cundari, Nick (Amanda Hlatky) Cundari, Jennifer Cundari, and Michael (Claudia Wright) Cundari, and her great grandson, Ty Huston.

She was predeceased by her sisters and brothers, Saletta Beltrano, Luigi Russo, Adelina DeVita, Lauretta DeVita, Ernesto Russo, and Enrichetta Cundari and Assunta Salituro.

Maria and her daughter Carmela immigrated to Canada in 1952 where they joined her beloved husband Domenico in Messiter, B.C. When she arrived in January 1952, the snow was so deep that when her steamer trunk was unloaded from the train, it completely sank out of sight. With the high mountains and raging river, she thought she had come to the ends of the earth. From that now abandoned railway stop between Blue River and Avola, they followed her husband's employment with the CNR to Birch Island and finally Kamloops where they spent the rest of their lives. After many years of no running water or electricity up the North Thompson, she truly appreciated the modern comforts of Kamloops.

Her intelligence allowed her to quickly learn the English language. Her work ethic kept her busy at many jobs, starting with the original tomato cannery in Kamloops. Maria worked hard both inside and outside the home. She was equally competent in the outdoors as she was in the kitchen. Maria was never idle. She was blessed with natural beauty and was always meticulous about her appearance. Her home was immaculate and filled with the savoury aromas of homemade gnocchi, perogies, and the best apple pie ever served on the planet Earth. Every Sunday she took pleasure in preparing a huge family dinner for all her children and grandchildren.

Her family was her joy and her joy blessed her family. She was fiercely loyal to family and friends, and woe to anyone that was negative about anyone close to her. She was the personification of love, loyalty and honour. Her faith in God gave her comfort, and helped her cope with the loss of her husband and her subsequent struggle with illness. She embodied all the Christian virtues. Most of all, she was our mother, grandmother and great grandmother, and we all loved her dearly.

The family would like to thank the wonderful staff at Ponderosa, Kamloops Seniors Village, and especially the Kamloops Hospice, as well as Dr. Howie, for all the kindness and compassion they showed our mother and nana in her last difficult years.

Prayers will be recited on Friday, January 14th, 2011 at 7:00 p.m. at Sacred Heart Cathedral. The Reverend Father Derrick Cameron will celebrate the Mass of Christian Burial on Saturday, January 15th, 2011 at 11:00 a.m. at the Sacred Heart Cathedral.

Entombment will follow at Evergreen Mausoleum.
Should friends desire, donations in memory of Maria Cundari to Kamloops Hospice, 72 Whiteshield Cres South, Kamloops, B.C., V2E 2S9, 250-372-1336, are appreciated.

Condolences may be expressed at
www.schoenings.com

Service arrangements entrusted to Schoening Funeral Service. Phone 250-374-1454.