TAFFAREL, Ida (Chies)

Our beloved mother Ida Taffarel passed away peacefully in her sleep at Sault and Area Hospital on Thursday, November 21, 2024, just 10 days prior to her 96th birthday, after suffering a sudden illness one week prior. Ida was predeceased by her loving husband and soulmate Mario (November 20, 1999). Left to mourn her absence are her son Michael (Lori) and daughter Gabrielle; grandchildren Louise (Steven), Thomas, Elizabeth, Anthony, and predeceased by granddaughter Olivia (2023). She will be missed also by great-grandchildren Destiny, Breanna, Danielle and Dean and remembered by their grandmother Beatrice. Ida was born in Ciser, Fregona in the province of Treviso, Italy to Francesco and Santa Chies on Dec. 1, 1928. She was predeceased by all her siblings and their spouses: Maria, Egidio, Lina, Adele/Sister Francapia, Angela/Sister Francarita, and Enrico. All her Taffarel brothers and sisters-in-law and their spouses also predeceased her: Pietro, Caterina, Francesco, Vittoria, Angela, Oliva, Alberto, and Elvira. Ida leaves behind numerous nieces and nephews all in Italy and France, as well as cousins there and in Thunder Bay, Ontario. Ida grew up in the shadow of the Great Depression years and World War 2 Europe. She left home to work at a young age far from home in northern Italy, and later in France. Mom and dad met in the late 1940's at her sister Lina's wedding in Sonego, Italy a neighbouring village of mom's where they were maid of honour and best man. Dad followed Mom to France after she joined some siblings living and working there in the Dordogne region. Both she and dad were at one time even in the employ of most famous American-born French citizen entertainer, war hero and civil rights activist Josephine Baker and her conductor, musician, composer husband Jo Bouillon at Chateau des Milandes. In 1950, they returned to Italy where they later married, and their son Michael was born in 1952. Dad immigrated to Canada in 1954 to work. Ida joined him here in Sault Ste. Marie in 1957 where their daughter Gabrielle was born the following year. She remained a homemaker devoting her life to her husband and family. She had a lovely singing voice and dad was a talented musician and mandolin-maker. Both shared a passion for both classical and contemporary Italian, French, Spanish, and English music. Our home was often filled with sounds of instruments, song, and music playing. Ida loved being outdoors and could be seen gardening, tending to her flowerbeds, mowing the lawn, snow-blowing or shovelling snow until her final year. Luckily, she was blessed with good health and lots of energy! She was an avid reader in Italian and English and took an interest in many different subjects. In 1983 she fulfilled a life-long desire to learn to drive, only reluctantly giving it up at age 94! She truly enjoyed her continuous independent car trips to visit family or friends, shopping, or to Bellevue Park and the Boardwalk with one of her series of treasured dogs: Nanouk (chihuahua), Betsy (papillon), Rosie (pomeranian), or lastly now Lucy (shih tzu) who is truly the most lap-dog ever watching tv or napping with mum on the lazy-boy. Ida will be truly missed by her loyal companion of 6.5 years Lucy, and also her grand-doggy Diego (doberman). We are consoled by the knowledge that our dear mother Ida and father Mario are now reunited for eternity after being apart 25 years almost to the day, and that they are now together with their cherished granddaughter Olivia once again. A heartfelt thank-you to caring staff at SAH Emergency Department, Intensive Care, and 3C, especially Drs. Curran, Kargbo, and Ladak and nurses Josh and Victoria. Special thanks to Father Peter Nwachukwu of St. Veronica's Parish, and to Jules and Lisa of O'Sullivan Funeral Home. A private family funeral service was held with burial at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery. Any memorial donations to the Sault and Area Hospital Foundation or the Heart and Stroke Foundation are greatly appreciated. Visit www.osullivanfuneralhome.com. to leave condolences for the family. Arrangements entrusted to O’Sullivan Funeral Home (215 St. James St., Sault Ste. Marie, ON, P6A 1P7, 705-759-8456).