03-Oct-1929 - 30-Apr-2021
It is with sadness in our hearts that we share the passing of Rolando Zapponi in his 92nd year. He was the beloved husband of the late Isabel (née Lawrie), loving dad of Silvanna (Frank), nonno of Christopher and Stephen (Laura), and bisnonno of Benjamin and Ethan.
Rolando lived his life to the fullest, enjoying the simple day-to-day things like growing tomatoes in his garden and making tomato sauce. He mastered making Sausages alla Mantovana, and made his fresh pasta right up to his final days. He loved a good homemade wine, and enjoyed a glass every night, with his standard toast over the last few years being, “I’m still here.”
Rolando was born in Northern Italy where he lived with his three sisters. He moved to England in the 1950s and married Isabel Lawrie, while working as a brewmaster in Ansells Brewery. In 1970 he immigrated with his wife and daughter to Canada, moving to Midland Ontario. Every couple of years he would return to Italy where he enjoyed reminiscing with his family and friends, but Canada was his home.
Rolando wore many hats over his lifetime. In Midland, he worked in construction where he laid the terrazzo floors for Midland Secondary School’s addition of a triple gymnasium. He also worked at the RCA facility for many years, at the same time working side by side with Isabel, as the owners of Midland Fish and Chips restaurant. In 1982, when RCA closed, he returned to Midland Secondary School as a custodian, cleaning the very floors that he had trowelled back in the 1970s. His beloved wife passed away in 1991 before they had a chance to enjoy their retirement together. Rolando reluctantly retired at the age of 65 at which time his focus turned to gardening, cooking, and watching sports and the news. Above all things during this time was his love of family gatherings at the cottage and spending time with his grandsons and great-grandsons.
In late 2019 Rolando moved to Barrie to live with his daughter and ‘Son-in-Love,” Frank. It was a special time where he shared stories of his past, especially his childhood in Italy. He enjoyed cooking old traditional recipes with many laughs at the dinner table over a second glass of wine. Rolando had a few health scares over the last two years, but even then he never missed a chance to crack a joke, mentioning some old friends who had passed before him, “I told Eugene and Joe to cancel my apartment without the windows. I’m not ready yet.”
Another famous Rolando quote was “we are on a wheel, and one day we all have to get off”. Rolando got off the wheel at his home, with Silvanna and Frank holding his hands saying their last goodbyes.
Rolando chose to be cremated, and his ashes will be carried to Italy by family for internment at a later time, where he will rejoin Isabel.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that a memorial donation be made to the local Food Bank, and whenever you enjoy pasta or raise a glass of wine, think of Rolando with fond memories. Memorial condolences may be made at www.nichollsfuneral.ca
An online Celebration of Life will be held on May 21, 2021. A link to the service will be posted shortly
