It is with great sadness, we announce the passing of Elvira Niro, our loving Mother-in-law, Nonna, Bis-Nonna and friend to all those whose lives she touched. Elvira left us on January 2nd at 5:50 am while sleeping peacefully at Bethell Hospice in Inglewood, Ontario. She was 93 years old.
Elvira was the daughter of Nicola and Camilla Spensieri and was born in Vinchiaturo, Campobasso, Italy in 1928. She had a brother Biagio and a sister Filomena. Elvira and her husband, Giovanni met and married in Italy.
To build a better life for their family Giovanni and Elvira decided to leave Italy and move to Toronto. Giovanni went ahead with Elvira following with her son Nick. Leaving Naples, Italy on December 9th 1952, Elvira at age 24 with her son Nick arrived at the port of New York, New York on Ellis Island on December 18th to join her husband Giovanni Niro on Earlscourt in Toronto. With her husband she raised her two sons Nick and Joseph at 25 Hilldale Road in Toronto.
Elvira, loved to garden and cook – teaching her grandchildren to make some of their favourites from gnocchi, fresh pasta, fresh bread, crostoli, and her homemade soup. She was also known for her amazing tomato sauce and homemade balsamic vinegar. She loved to talk on the phone for hours with her dear sister-in-laws Carmela and Antonietta. Elvira loved to laugh, had a witty sense of humour and a mischievous side to her that made us all smile.
Sadly, she was predeceased by her husband Giovanni and her two sons Nick (Mary) and Joseph (Rosanna) and her brother Biagio (Antonietta) Spensieri. Elvira was fiercely independent and was extremely proud of her home in Caledon East, where she moved to be closer to her family. She was a dear Mother-in-law of Mary and Rosanna. A proud Nonna of: Laura (Rich), Michelle (Ken), Nadia (Brian), Lisa (Joey), Carina, and Catherine. And was a Bis-Nonna to nine great-grandchildren – Hannah, Caitlyn, Madelin, Emily, Natalie, Gwen, Aria, Liam, and Nikolaos.
Elvira will be dearly missed by all those whose lives she touched and her memory will forever be a blessing.
On Wednesday, January 5th there will be a private visitation at 11 am at Egan Funeral Home in Bolton for family due to Covid restrictions. There will be a burial at Sanctuary Park Cemetary – 1570 Royal York Road, Etobicoke on Thursday, January 6th at 2 pm.
Condolences for the family may be offered at www.EganFuneralHome.com
Maria Birmingham
To Michelle, Laura, Nadia, Mrs. Niro, and all of your families:
We are so very sorry for your loss and send along our deepest sympathies. We are keeping you all in our prayers.
Much love,
Maria, Sam, and Grace
Stephanie Axworthy
To the Niro family,
I am sorry for your loss. May happy memories provide comfort at this difficult time.
Nancy Barton
Natalie,
My condolences to you and your family on the loss of your Bis-Nonna.
You will miss her.
Nancy (from Bolton Florist)
Travis McMullin
Niro family.
Very saddened to hear of Elvira’s passing. She was such a sweet lady. Always very kind and quiet. Any time i worked at the house she always had an interesting story to go with a tea or coffee. Thinking of all of you at this difficult time. Love you guys.
Lisa Niro, Joey Sardelis, Aria and Nikolaos
We will miss you so much Nonna. We loved coming to visit you and listening to all of your wonderful stories. We laughed so much and always felt your love. Our children loved spending time with you at your house and visiting at Vera Davis. You will always be in our hearts.
Sylvia King
To all the Niro Family
I wish to extend my sincere sympathy with Elvira’s passing. I knew her as a dental patient who always had a special smile and a word of thanks! She loved to talk (boast) about all her family.Such a lovely lady who will be missed.
Rosa Gale
Cara Zia,
Thank you for being my mom’s phone friend and confidant all these years.
Your wonderful stories of our families will be missed and you will be forever in our hearts.
Rosa Gale
Rosa Severino
Our condolences to you, Rosanna and all of your family. You are all in my thoughts and prayers ❤️
Fogt family
Mrs Niro – Elvira to us – was our next door neighbour for over 30 years.
She was wonderful!
A great lady. A true friend.
During those years we shared many chats & laughs, bags of greens from the garden, stories & troubles – sometimes over the garden fence, at others around her cosy kitchen table with a “wicked”cup of coffe & some oatmeal cookies. If we were lucky, she’d treat us to her special “O” shaped wine biscuits – secret recipe!
Some years ago she tried to show me how to make gnocchi – you never saw such gnocchi in your life!
Exasperation with her hopeless student, & lots more laughing. 😀
In bad weather we used the phone: She’d say, “Barbara!” And I’d say, “Elvira!” And we were off, on another journey through past times & the troubles of the world (which we’d fix later). We complained about the waste, the prices, the weather, the TV, the squirrels for digging the soil out of the planters, the thermostat & the water heater. She’d say “Eh, what you gonna do.” And then we’d have a chuckle over her latest Everybody Loves Raymond episode. She really liked Raymond.
When it was time to go it was, “OK Barbara.” And I’d say, “OK Elvira.”
Until next time.
Today it’s really hard to say because there won’t be a next time.
But it has to be done, so:
OK Elvira, sweetly sleep.
We’ll miss you like crazy.
With love, gratitude & condolences:
Barbara, Peder, Mike & Linda Fogt.
Phyllis De Berardis
Dear Rosanna and family, please accept our heartfelt condolences for the loss of a special woman in your lives. My mother, Maria speaks so highly of her from their shared past and similar history of hard work, strong family values, loss and fierce independence. You can be very proud that she shared so many stories of her past and passed down her love of cooking that will continue to embrace you with her pleasant memories each time you share these foods together.
Warm regards form Maria Spensieri, Phyllis and Robert De Berardis
Rosa DiProspero
Zia, you will missed. Will always remember growing up next door to you and all the laughs we would have.
Memories I will have forever. RIP Cara Zia.
Gordon Chiarot
Our thoughts and prayers are with the entire Niro Clan
Chiarot Family
Benny
To Rosanna and family,
We are sending our sympathy and prayers at this time.
Benny& Linda
Fr. Bob Glynn
I am sorry due to my health I was not able to there for your family during this difficult time. I prayed for Elvira during the masses this past weekend . I pray that the Lord will keep you and your family close to His heart and comfort you in your time of greif.
Eternal rest grant upon her oh Lord and perpetual life be granted to her in heaven.
Frances Pippo
Dear Mary and girls and family, please accept our deepest condolences at the loss of Elvira.
We will keep all of you in our prayers
Frances and Elio Pippo
Tersigni Family
Our deepest condolences to the entire family. We didn’t get to know Elvira too well, however she’s was such a sweet woman and roommate to our Mother prior to her passing in November. Always asking and checking in to make sure she was ok. May she rest in peace.