Maria Rosa (Rosie) Lombardi
elevated ziABK November 16, 1958 ~ April 23, 2024
elevated ziABK Visitation
Monday, April 29, 2024 from 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
elevated ziABK Holy Cross Catholic Funeral Home
211 Langstaff Road East, Thornhill, ON, L3T 3Z6
elevated ziABK Committal Service
Monday, April 29, 2024 at 12:15 pm
elevated ziABK Holy Family Mausoleum – Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery
elevated ziABK Entombment
Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery
8361 Yonge Street, Thornhill, ON, L3T 2C7
elevated ziABK Peacefully, on Tuesday , April 23, 2024, in Vaughan, Ontario at the age of 65. Beloved sister of Mike Lombardi and his wife Danielle, Sergio Lombardi and his wife Robin, and Bruno Lombardi. Adored aunt of Pierluigi, Carmen, Elizabeth and her husband Jordan, Nicholas and his wife Kelsey, Olivia and Sofi. Dear great-aunt of Elijah. If desired, memorial donations may be made to World Vision.
My deepest condolences to the family and friends. Keeping you in my thoughts and in my prayers. May your soul rest in forever peace my childhood friend
Our deepest condolences go out to you all and your families during this difficult time of mourning the loss of your beloved sister.
Our prayers and thoughts are with you during this difficult time. Maria Rosa’s memories will live on forever and help you during these hard times.
With love,
Trosolina (Luciano) Sellitto & families
I am so surprised and saddened to hear of Rosie’s passing!!!!!! Rosie and I met at Price Waterhouse around 1989 or so. We both worked for Jim Gaston at Price Waterhouse in the Emerging Technologies Group. Rosie was an intelligent, interesting, extremely perceptive person. IIR she went from Price Waterhouse to become a Healthtech journalist, with articles in Canadian Healthcare Technology and other publications. Although we did not have a chance to get together, we stayed I touch until her passing on Facebook. Her FB page is replete with fascinating art, photograph, historical and scientific topics. I was often amazed at the beautiful art/photography that she managed to curate. She was a good friend and colleague and a very special person. I am sorry for you loss.
Dear Lombardi Family,
Our condolences on the passing of Rosie. We were saddened to hear about it. Long life to all of you.
Peter and Joyce.
I was so sorry to hear of Rosie’s passing. She was such a smart, compassionate person. My deepest sympathies to your family.
Very sad to hear Rosie’s no longer with us. My condolences to you, her family. I worked with Rosie a few times throughout my career and it was always a pleasure.
I am so sad to hear of Rosie’s passing. Like John Soloninka I met Rosie at Price Waterhouse in 1989. We developed a lovely friendship and she was always up for a good debate on philosophy, politics, art, music, sex, religion, Jim Gaston’s ties, or pretty much anything. I had nothing but admiration for her resourcefulness, intellect, wit and humour. Even through the distance of being in NZ I still felt her friendship and connection. Our loss is heaven’s gain though I am sure we would no doubt debate that claim for hours in the coffee room if we still could. Rest in peace special lady. Michael Hurle, Wellington, NZ
I am deeply saddened that she is gone.
She will always remain in my heart.
Condolences to the whole family.
R.I.P. ROSIE
(Copy of my eulogy at Rosie’s funeral)
I would like to sincerely thank the family members and friends who are here today. It’s been a very stressful week for all of us, but especially for her brothers: Sergio, Bruno, and me.
The death of a loved one is never pleasant, especially when it happens so suddenly and unexpectedly. Our instinct is to ask
• “why did she die”
• “Why it have to happen, now?”
• “Could we have helped her more? “
At the same time, the death of a loved brings us all closer together in love and respect for one another. It makes us appreciate that life is both precious and temporary.
Let us take the time to grieve and mourn but let us also celebrate her life.
My sister was loved by those who knew her. You can’t summarize her 65 years of life experience in a few minutes at a funeral. It would take a book, many books to write it all down. Someone once said “when a person dies, we lose a whole library of stories and memories”
In the last few days, I have been going through her pictures, many of which you see here today. And I am reminded of the Rosie we knew best
• I remember one day long ago, my mother was away and a few days later brought home a new baby girl —Rosie—into the house. I was 4 years old at that time and that was one of my earliest memories.
• Rosie was an exceptional student, we placed her in the first grade almost 2 years in advance of other kids. As the youngest child in the class, she kept that pace all the way though high school.
• Early on she acquired a love of writing, and she wrote a lot–poems, notes, short stories—a skill that served her well in later life when she earned a living as a freelance writer for professional magazines.
• Rosie loved gardening—boy did she love gardening! In her last few years she turned her house and garden into a botanical garden with all kinds of exotic flowers and plants—almost none of which I can recognize–and don’t even ask me their names.
• Although Rosie never married or had children, she very much loved being with her family. Whether it was Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving, birthdays, she was always happy to join in and celebrate together with the family.
• She never had her own family but she had a special place in her heart for her nephews and nieces: Carmen, Nico, Ellie, Sophie, Olivia, and Elijah.
• She would invite them over, teach them new recipes, show them her latest pants, or tell them stories about Lombardi ancestors and family traditions. Their lives are much richer for having had such an aunt in their life.
• And she had friends—most of them virtual. As you can see from the Facebook postings, she has a life and experience outside of her immediate family. They too mourn her passing.
.
Rosie — you lived your life the way you chose–a life full of both joys and tears.
The world is a much better place because of you.
Rest in peace.
Know that you, your love, your spirit, and your memory will live forever in each and every one of our hearts.
I am so sorry for your loss. I worked with Rosie long ago and remember an intelligent, quirky person with a quick wit. I always enjoyed her posts and I am glad I kept in touch if only through social media.
Rosie was such a sweet person. I enjoyed staying at her home when I was there. I always felt welcome and at home. I’m glad I got to take the trip to Niagara Falls last year with her and all of you. I’ll miss her. RIP Rosie. My sympathy to all of you.
Rosie may you rest in peace. My sincere condolences to the family. Rosie and I worked together years ago at Prudential Assurance of England. A wonderful person. So sorry to hear of her passing.