elevated gaYrj April 23, 1927 – February 12, 2025

elevated gaYrj Visitation
Wednesday, February 26, 2025, from 2 – 4 & 6 – 8 pm
Holy Cross Catholic Funeral Home
211 Langstaff Road East, Thornhill, Ontario, L3T 3Z6

elevated gaYrj Funeral Mass
Saturday, March 1, 2025 at 10:30 am
Chapel of St. Joseph at Holy Cross Catholic Funeral Home
211 Langstaff Road East, Thornhill, Ontario, L3T 3Z6

elevated gaYrj Click here to view the a recording of the Funeral Mass

elevated gaYrj Interment
Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery – Section: 21
8361 Yonge Street, Thornhill, Ontario, L3T 2C7

elevated gaYrj Reception to follow at Holy Cross Catholic Funeral Home

elevated gaYrj Obituary

elevated gaYrj Our beloved mother, grandmother and great-grandmother left us in her 98th year. Loving wife of Manlio (2012) since October of 1952. Pre-deceased in 1981 by her eldest son Dr. Giacomo d’Ambrosio. Loving mother of Giacomo (Elaine), Luigi (Brian) and Elvira, proud grandmother of Aaron (Louise), and great-grandmother of Jacob and Jamie. Pre-deceased in 2006 by her much-loved brother Vincenzo and survived by her beloved sister-in-law and friend Andrée.

elevated gaYrj She was pre-deceased by her dear parents Giacomo Briguglio (1953) and Anna Pasqualini Briguglio (1996). Maria Luisa is survived by her dear sister-in-law Tina Salvoni (Manlio’s sister) and her children, Bruno (Maria) in Miami, Massimiliano in Rome and Clara Young (Troy) in Colorado Springs and their families.

elevated gaYrj Marisa kept in touch with and loved to visit her dear cousins Dino Bocchini (2002), Emilia Giacobbe (d) and her husband Carmine (1991) of Spoleto, Italy; her cousins Maria Laura Piernera (2023), Wilma Piernera Tumino (2006) and her husband Emanuele (1993), and their daughter Vera and son Giancarlo of Rome; cousin Emanuele Nardi (d) and his wife Maria Antionetta of Rome; Manlio’s nephew Pierluigi d’Ambrosio (Antonella) of Rome; Pierluigi’s children Stefano (Federica) and Donatella (Gabriele) of Rome; Manlio’s cousin Elvira Mencarini (Nino) of Milan and their children Renzo (Roberta) and Marta (Peer Olof); Manlio’s uncle Peppino Aquilino (2005) and his wife Nina (2021), their son Andrea (Antonella) and their daughter Claudia of Naples, and son Michele (Stefania) and their son Cristiano.

elevated gaYrj Marisa enjoyed spending time with Manlio’s relatives, the Astrella, Maselli and Pica families in Toronto, extended family the Nocitos in Collingwood,  the Beven family in Burford and the Beysovecs in Toronto. She had the ability to cultivate lifelong friendships, which she treasured. Marisa will be fondly remembered and missed by friends and family.

elevated gaYrj Growing up in Rome, she developed a love of theatre and music, especially opera. She attended the symphony and the opera into her 90s.

elevated gaYrj A special thank you to her caregivers: Jennifer (who supported her for over 12 years), Juddef, Hanna, Fanos, Judy, GieGie, Lora Beth, Aida and Annie for helping to care for Mom in her final years.

elevated gaYrj We are grateful for Mom’s immediate neighbours, who were always there to lend a hand. Thank you Lou and Karen, Brent and Anabella.

elevated gaYrj In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations to the Dr. Giacomo L. d’Ambrosio Memorial Foundation (Business Number 887415990RR0001) c/o Rousseau Mazzucca Barristers and Solicitors, 65 Queen Street West, Suite 1000, Toronto, Ontario M5H 2M5. Donations by credit card and e-transfer gratefully received by calling 416-304-9899. Tax receipts will be issued.

elevated gaYrj Eulogy

elevated gaYrj Maria Luisa (Briguglio) d’Ambrosio

elevated gaYrj April 23, 1927 – February 12, 2025.

elevated gaYrj Born in Rome in 1927, Maria Luisa had an idyllic childhood, spending time in Sicily, where her father hailed from, and her mother’s native Spoleto, in Umbria. She enjoyed spending time at the sea and in the mountains until in her teen years, the Second World War started. Despite prevailing ideas about the role of women at the time, she pursued higher education and became a teacher. While she did not spend much time in the classroom, she put her education to good use in raising her three children, Giacomo, Luigi and Elvira.

elevated gaYrj Maria Luisa had a strong belief in equity and equality, formed in part by her childhood experience of prejudice toward others near to her. During the Second World War, she and her family, along with the other residents of their condominium, at great personal peril, helped to hide their Jewish neighbours when Nazi soldiers came calling. She described heart-pounding moments when their Jewish neighbours had to be secretly moved from suite to suite to avoid discovery, all the while having to behave as though nothing was happening.

elevated gaYrj Maria Luisa and Manlio married in 1952.  Manlio called her “Marisa” and the nickname stuck. They came to Canada from Rome a few years after marriage, along with their son Giacomo, her mother Anna and her brother Vincenzo, to settle in Montréal.

elevated gaYrj After living in Montréal for a few years, Luigi arrived. Shortly after, Marisa and Manlio moved the family to Vancouver for a year for Manlio’s work, then returned to Montréal where Elvira soon arrived. Marisa was delighted when Vincenzo and Andrée married in 1967, making her sad to leave them behind a couple of years later to move the family, including her mother Anna, to Toronto.

elevated gaYrj She and Manlio became close with several neighbours in Montréal who became lifelong friends. After moving to Toronto, they continued to keep in touch with and see the Scherers, the Schacters and the Mayoffs, among others.

elevated gaYrj Marisa loved Manlio’s extended family in Toronto. She enjoyed spending time with the Astrellas, the Masellis and the Picas. They helped to create so many wonderful memories.

elevated gaYrj During all the moves, Marisa was the anchor of the family. She was the constant influence who attended PTA meetings, took her children to the dentist and went to the school when Giacomo had broken yet another pair of glasses. She was always there to provide ideas, counsel and support to Manlio as he became more and more involved in community building and the betterment of the Italian Canadian community in Toronto.

elevated gaYrj Unbeknownst to many today, Marisa was also masterful in advocating for the community. When she became aware that the Italian language program was to be cancelled at her children’s High School, she fought to save it by organizing petitions, making deputations and going so far as to meet with the Minister of Education. After the program was re-instated, the Principal remarked that she had used a cannon when a pea-shooter would have sufficed.

elevated gaYrj Through her son, Giacomo, the family became close friends with the Nocito family. The Nocitos became our extended family, spending decades of Christmases, Thanksgivings, birthdays and other milestone celebrations together.

elevated gaYrj Similarly, Marisa and Manlio delighted in visiting and being welcomed into the Beven family, participating in so many family celebrations over many years, in Burford Ontario.

elevated gaYrj We would be remiss to not emphasize the importance of the arts and culture in our mother’s life. From a young age in Rome and continuing in Canada, she would enthusiastically attend opera and symphony performances.

elevated gaYrj She recognized the musical arias of most every opera, and was capable of reciting the words with ease, joking that she could be the prompter for opera singers at a performance. She would look forward to discussing opera performances with family friend, Livia Beysovec.

elevated gaYrj Mom believed in education, expanding one’s horizons. One day she decided to learn Spanish so she went to night school and learned to speak Spanish fluently. She then brought our family on two occasions to Mexico, so she could practice her Spanish. She was proficient in Italian, Latin, French, English, and Spanish.

elevated gaYrj Family meant everything to mom and she looked after her mother, Anna, until she passed away, peacefully, at home, at the age of 100 years +9 months.

elevated gaYrj While, sometimes initially reluctant to agree, she travelled to Italy with Brian, Luigi, and Elvira. She also travelled with the boys to Montreal, Florida, New York, and Michigan. She was happy to embrace an adventure with her family.

elevated gaYrj She was proud of her children’s accomplishments and was always there to provide guidance. Marisa was delighted to become a grandmother. She very much wanted to support her grandson Aaron on his educational journey and was so proud of his success. She happily welcomed Louise into the family when Aaron and Louise married during the pandemic.

elevated gaYrj The arrival of Aaron and Louise’s children made her a great-grandmother. It is difficult to describe her happiness every time she saw Jacob, who is now 3. Unfortunately, she did not have an opportunity to meet 5-month-old Jamie in-person but loved seeing pictures and would certainly have been smitten with her great-granddaughter.

elevated gaYrj As I look around the room, I am touched to see my mother‘s caregivers present. They worked tirelessly to help my mother maintain her quality of life. Jennifer spent over 12 years working with my mom.  When in hospital mom’s caregivers were with her 24/7and never left her wanting for anything.

elevated gaYrj Thank you to all mom’s caregivers from the bottom of my heart. Thank you from the d’Ambrosio family. Most importantly, thank you from my mother. She has blown you many kisses over the years and here’s one final one from her to you all.

elevated gaYrj Maria Luisa was born on the cusp between two generations and personified the finest elements of each. As part of the Greatest Generation, she learned important lessons from growing up in the economic uncertainty of the late 1920s and 1930s. She didn’t like waste and was always very pragmatic. As part of the Silent Generation, she was loyal, patriotic, ambitious and hard-working.

elevated gaYrj We are so grateful for her long and meaningful life and we will miss her.