Roy Romano Seravalle
elevated zyLvY January 12, 1952 – December 11, 2022
elevated zyLvY Visitation
Friday December 16, 2022 from 5pm to 8pm
elevated zyLvY Holy Cross Catholic Funeral Home
211 Langstaff Road East, Thornhill, ON, L3T 3Z6
elevated zyLvY Funeral Mass – Chapel of St. Joseph (within the Funeral Home)
Saturday December 17, 2022 at 12:00 p.m.
elevated zyLvY To watch the Mass live, Click here
elevated zyLvY Cremation
To take place following the Funeral Mass
elevated zyLvY Obituary
elevated zyLvY Peacefully on December 11, 2022, after a short influenza illness complicated from underlying Myotonic Dystrophy Type 2. Survived by his loving wife, Wendy (Seravalle-Smith), his brother Anthony (Patty) – nephews Michael (Katya) and great niece Zoe, Daniel (Sara), and Luke; brothers in law Bill (Marg) – nieces Victoria (Luke) and great nephew Jackson, and Alison, John (Diana) – niece Kristen (Chris) and great nephew Kieran (Karena), nephew Trevor and great nephews Elliott and Macallan, nephew Stephen (Kim). Predeceased by his parents Mario and Anna Maria (Durigon), Wendy’s parents (Allan and Dorothy Smith), twin brother Remigio, and great niece Merighan. Beloved nephew of especially Rita and Toni, and cousin of many.
elevated zyLvY Roy was a lover of learning (recently studying 4 languages and reaching top 3% in the world in Duo Lingo Italian). He held varying positions in the retail management field then embraced with determination his studies for Child and Youth Worker designation. He loved his work as an educational assistant and being a part of the chaplaincy team at Senator O’Connor Catholic high school until his retirement.
elevated zyLvY Roy enjoyed watching sports (Maple Leafs, Argos, and World Cup soccer) and a good romance movie. He was an avid reader, especially of science fiction, and loved to cook and especially bake. Roy wrote stories but also wrote profoundly of his acceptance of his disability through Wendy’s love and his deep faith. Roy cared deeply for those with physical and mental challenges, and for those in need. In lieu of flowers, donations to The Scott Mission (Roy’s regular charity), or the Muscular Dystrophy Society would be appreciated.
elevated zyLvY The family wish to acknowledge with thanks the care he received from nurses and doctors in ER and on ward 4, but especially the care from the team in the ICU at Mackenzie Health.
Sending out sincerest condolences. Roy was well lived at Senator O’Connor and his memory will live on there forever. He spoke so lovingly of his wife Wendy and how special she was to him.
Your kind words mean so much to me. Roy truly loved his time at O’Connor
Dear Wendy
My heart goes out to you at this time of great sadness and loss.
Love, Sheila
Thanks so much Sheila and Ian.
Thanks so much for your good thoughts Sheila and Ian
I knew Roy back in 2014 when I came to O’Connor, He was a delight and so diligent in his job as a CYW, he loved the kids, and I know he was a man of faith. Please know that your family is in our prayers and I am so sorry for your loss. May Roy rest in peace.
Roy enjoyed so much his time at O’Connor. Thanks for your kind words
Roy made the best biscotti, which were happily shared with staff at O’Connor especially at Christmas. He was a thoughtful, kind man and staff and students are better for having known him.
Yes indeed Roy loved to bake! He loved sharing this and his love for staff and students
So sad to hear of Roy’s passing. He was a valued member of the family at Senator O’Connor. He had a wonderful sense of humour too and will be missed. Condolences to everyone connected to Roy,
Thanks so much for your words. It means a lot to me
Roy was a man who lived his faith through his devotion to the most vulnerable members of our school community. As Principal of Senator O’Connor, I was impressed not only with his diligence in attending to the physical needs of his students but the deep personal bond he shared with them due to his respect, compassion, kindness- and sense of fun. Corny jokes and a big smile went a long way in gaining the trust of the many students who benefited from Roy’s various talents.He was an important member of our community and his memory will live on in the minds and hearts of those who had the pleasure of knowing him.
Thanks so much for your beautiful words. It means so much to me
Dear Wendy,
I am sending you my deepest condolences. I never had the chance to meet Roy, but it sounds like he was a wonderful man with so many great qualities. He will truly be missed by his entire family and friends.
Thanks so much Audrey. I will miss him so much but I am comforted by memories and knowing that his challenges are behind him
Wendy, I am so sorry to hear of your loss. I worked with Roy as an EA at O’Connor from 2005 until his retirement. He was very passionate about his job, most especially his contribution to the chaplaincy department. He would share his baking on many occasions, the biscotti were always a treat. Please know that my thoughts and prayers are with you and yours at this time.
Thanks so much Margaret. He enjoyed his work, colleagues, and students very much at O’Connor. Your memories mean a lot to me
I share comforting thoughts upon the loss of beloved Roy. In lamenting his passing, I offer you, Wendy, my sincere expression of prayers, which I knew your spouse possessed in generous measure for others. It was my privilege to spend enjoyable moments in casual dialogue about cultural topics. He was especially proud in citing your musical skills of string instrument instruction and adjudication at festivals, exams across the nation and beyond; the same level of pride exemplified his positive attitude in enriching our O’Connor community. On occasion, I drove him from school events; may the Lord deliver Roy to heavenly home alongside Tom O’Brien, whom he honoured with a hand-crafted sacred wooden art piece at retirement. Peace.
Thank you so much for your comforting words. I remember very well Roy working on the gift for Tom. He loved his time at O’Connor in many aspects of its community
Thank you so much for your comforting words. I remember very well Roy working on the gift for Tom. He loved his time at O’Connor in many aspects of its community
Dear Wendy, we are so sorry for your loss. We have fond memories of you and Roy from MBL. Keeping you in our prayers 🙏
Thank you Barb…. MBL was the best of times for us indeed and such a great community. I will enjoy reading so many memories in the journals we each kept when there.
Thanks for your prayers. YES MBL was the best of times for us. These memories will always be with me.
May you rest in peace Roy. You had a big heart, a keen intellect, an infectious laugh, and the best biscotti!
Thanks so much Hedley… your memories of him mean so much to me.
Thanks so much for your memories. Roy loved his work, students and colleagues at O’Connor
Dear Wendy,
I was very sorry to hear of Roy’s passing.
We worked together in the Resource Department. Roy was a great go-to for students who needed math support and he always had a good heart for all the students at O’Connor. Also, as many noted, he was also a wonderful baker of his biscotti.
May your dear memories of him bring you comfort in this difficult time. I am keeping you and your family in my prayers.
Take care, Louise
Thank you so much Louise for your kind words and prayers. Roy was so proud of his work at O’Connor that he made a difference… and yes he loved to share his love of baking 🙂
Hello. My condolences are with you (and the family). I worked with him when I was at O’Connor. He was a nice and good man, kind and friendly. He will be missed.
Thank you so much Wanda for your kind words. Roy enjoyed very much his work and community at O’Connor
Wendy –
I am so sorry to hear of your loss. Although I never met Roy, he sounds like an amazing person. My thoughts are with you.
Wendy
Thanks so much for your good thoughts
Dearest Wendy,
What sad news that Roy is no longer among us. I was so Blessed to work with Roy at Senator O’Connor for so many years. Roy was such a bright light, a gentle and kind-hearted colleague. We spent so many hours working together on the Adopt-A-Family campaign with Tom O’Brien and I cherish all those memories and all the laughter we shared. I still have the card he gave me when I left O’Connor as his words were truly inspiring and gave me such peace. I agree with everyone as his Biscotti was truly delicious. Please accept my sincerest condolences. RIP Roy, until we meet again.
Thanks so much for your kind words and beautiful memories. Roy loved his time at O’Connor
We are so sorry for your loss Wendy. We remember especially how Roy supported you when our children played violin and cello.
Our prayers are with you especially during this time.
The family Groen
Thank you so much your prayers. Roy took a deep interest in my students and my work
I was one of the many students he helped. If I wasn’t in class, I was in the resource room and vice versa. One of the reasons why got along was because we had the same sense of humour. He was always quick with a comeback and me the same. I remember one time he hand delivered an assignment for me after I ironically hurt myself trying to finish it. He saw how much pain I was and told me (more liked ordered me) to go home and lick my wounds. He didn’t have to that but he insisted that I go home and take care of myself. Simple little things like that made me grow to respect him because he truly cared. This one hurts but I know you are probably making some laugh where ever you are. Until we meet again, rest in peace my friend.
Thank you Rosanna for all your kind words of Roy and his character. I am so glad that he was able to be of support to you.
My condolences to Wendy and Anthony and family on the passing of Roy. Many family memories were made in all our parents homes . May all your cherished memories with Roy remain in your heart and help you through the difficult days. My thoughts and prayers are with you all.
Nives and family XO
Thanks so much Nives and family for all the great memories and your support now and in the days to come
Dear Ms Wendy,
I am so sorry to hear that Roy passed away. Our deepest condolences to you and your family.
No one can take his place but the Lord Almighty can comfort your heart!
May God give you the strength to deal with this great loss of your husband.
May his soul rest in peace.
Thanks so much for your kind words and prayers…. these help strengthen me very much.
Wendy, although we have never met, I offer my sincere condolences for the loss of your beloved Roy. I crossed paths with Roy as an adult student at Seneca College when we both were pursuing our Adult Education – Staff Training and Development Certificates. On several occasions, I drove him home after class as it was on my way. Roy was always a delightful passenger. We regretfully never continued to keep in touch but in reading the many messages of condolence, I see that Roy continued his studies into pedagogy/education as did I. I became a secondary school teacher and I wish I had had the pleasure to work with him. I know, and the messages confirm, that he would have been a wonderful colleague! May you be carried through your sorrow by the love and support of extended family and friends. God speed!
Thank you so much for your memories as they indeed give comfort. Those were great days for Roy as a step along the pathway towards being a CYW and then EA at Senator O’Connor. I am sure he would have been so glad to hear of your achievements as well. All the best!
Wendy, Jeremy and I will always remember how patient and effective Roy was when he was tutoring Jeremy many years ago. He was a warm and caring person who clearly loved to teach. We hope that beautiful memories of him will warm your heart.
Roy indeed loved to help make a difference. He never gave up in helping those he worked to truly see what they could be capable of. These memories of his time with Jeremy mean so much to me. Thanks so much for coming to support me during this challenging time as we have known each other for so long on so many levels.