ORLANDO GERARDO SICILIANO

Surrounded by his loving family, Orlando Gerardo Siciliano passed away on May 8, 2017.

Orlando leaves to mourn his beloved wife of 50 years, Giovanna Siciliano. He is also survived by daughter, Lucia Siciliano (Vergil Kanne), daughter, Marianna Vieira (Paulo) and son, Franco Siciliano (Shauna Leochko). He also leaves to mourn his special grandsons, Nicolas Dingman, Daniel Vieira and Rio Vieira, and his many grandpups. He is also survived by his mother-in-law Ida De Rose in Italy, sister Amelia Romeo, sister-in-law Silvana Medaglia and brother-in-law Alberto Capozzi in Winnipeg. In Italy, he leaves to mourn his brothers-in-law Franco Medaglia (Elmira) and Carmelino Medaglia (Pina); sister-in-law Maria De Santis (Romano) and many nieces and nephews in Canada and Italy.

Orlando was predeceased by his parents Mariano and Teodolinda Siciliano, brother Egidio Siciliano (Frances), sister Raffaella Capozzi, father-in-law Antonio Medaglia and brothers-in-law Giuseppe Medaglia and Antonio Romeo.

Orlando was born on January 12, 1934 in Marano Principato, Cosenza, Italy. He immigrated to Canada in 1960 via the Queen Frederica Ship landing in Halifax, making his way to Winnipeg to meet up with his big brother Egidio. Orlando appreciated education and worked hard in Italy to receive his teaching certificate. Upon his arrival in Winnipeg he worked for a furniture upholstery factory, while completing his Grade 12 and working towards his credentials for barber/hair styling. He spent many years as a barber on Osborne Street and later left that profession to become an orderly at the Health Sciences Centre, where he would then work as an Orthopedic Technologist.

He was very proud of his grandsons and enjoyed spending time with them, spoiling them with pockets full of change at every visit. He had a love for gardening, especially his prized tomatoes. He also had a love for animals, ranging from canaries to German Shepherds and he loved watching nature shows. He was also a huge fan of comedy, especially Mr. Bean and Benny Hill. He would spend countless hours reading or studying medicals books, doing amateur photography and had recently taken an interest in wristwatches.

Orlando was an extremely strong willed man, fighting every battle with courage and dignity. He will be greatly missed by all.

Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. Friday, May 12, 2017 in the Holy Rosary Roman Catholic Church, 510 River Avenue with the Rev. Fr. Gerry Ward the celebrant.

Visitation will be held prior to the mass beginning at 10:00 a.m.

Pallbearers will be Messrs. Todd Bezak, Mounir Mzakar, Bob Mauthe, Andrew Mauthe, Sydney Dos Santos, and Jonny Gigliotti.

The family would like to express their sincere appreciation to the doctors, nurses and staff of the Hemodialysis Unit at the St. Boniface Hospital, the St. Boniface Intensive Care Unit and those who have cared for Orlando over the past fifteen years.

Flowers are gratefully declined however memorial contributions made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Manitoba, The Kidney Foundation of Canada (Manitoba Branch) or the Canadian Diabetes Association would be sincerely appreciated by the family.

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