This Tribute to our father was written by his son Michael Rullo…
First and foremost, the Rullo Family would like to thank everybody for taking time out of their day, to come to our dad’s service. We’d also like to thank the following: all the doctors, nurses, care givers, volunteers, Red Cross, Foothills & Rockyview Hospital, people at Tom Baker, everybody who helped, prayed for and visited our dad while he was in good health and bad. We thank you all, and want you to know our family and father greatly appreciated everything that people have done for him over the years…
The history of our father can be split into two: the life he had before he met and fell in love with our mother Maria, and then the life he shared with Maria after they were married.
Born March 8th 1932 Romeo-Mario Rullo was a child of the depression and WWII. Like many children born around that time, Mario had a very hard life growing up. Lost his mother at age 4 while she was giving birth. His older brother Emilio also passed away when he was just a child. During WWII he was shot in the back during crossfire in the war, he got up and made it to safety. He had to quit school at age 11 to go to work full time to help support his family…
His life was not an easy one; there were many times in his life where he would go without any food and no sleep, and never complained about it. His position in life never stopped him from working hard, and taking any and all jobs that came his way in hopes of making a better life for himself and his family.
Before immigrating to Canada Mario had a productive life. He taught himself how to be an auto mechanic, drive a car and motorbike. He was also a truck driver and did deliveries all over Italy, was a soldier and tank instructor in the army, went to Germany for work for 2 years without even knowing how to speak the language, and worked odd jobs to help pay the bills… By chance he saw a posting in a post office for employment opportunities in Canada, and being the adventurous person he was, he went for it. Told some friends, and together they made their way to Canada on an old Canadian military boat “The Falcone,” and arrived in Halifax May 4th 1957 with only $10.00 in his pocket…
In Canada he had to repay his debt back to the Canadian Government for his trip and accommodation’s… Mario worked for CP-rail, shined shoes, drove trucks, was a grater, did paving, snow removal, worked on a farm for a German family, and did any and all small jobs in order to pay back his debt, and tried his best to get ahead… He repaid his debt owed to the Canadian government for his trip: then made his way to Calgary where he would settle and make it his home.
In 1962 by chance he met and fell in love with Maria Roselli, it was love at fist sight! Maria came to Canada for a prearranged marriage to another man. Mario was smitten with her, and wouldn’t take no for an answer, and he proceeded to asked her out on a date. It took some convincing from Mario, the people Maria was staying with, and Mario’s friends before Maria agreed to meet with him. After meeting Maria for less than 24 hours, he asked her for her hand in marriage. To make a long story short: it wasn’t easy, but Maria said yes, and 27 days later they married. They’ve been together less than 3 months shy of 50 years.
When Mario met Maria, he found his partner in life, and his luck and fortune started to change for the better. They started their life together living in a friend’s basement suite being $500.00 in debt. They worked together, paid all debts, and bought their first home… In that first home Mario and Maria together sponsored extended family to immigrate to Canada, and let them stay there in their small 700sqft home, until they were able to find a place of their own.
Mario treated his in-laws and mother-in-law as his own family. Mario and Maria together worked through good times, and in bad to make a better life for their family. Mario was selfless; he lived for his family and three children: Emilia, Mirella, and Michael. He always put his children and Maria ahead of himself…
Mario and Maria created an amazing life together. They travelled to many places, bought other homes, created businesses, went to lots of parties and dancing, everything they did was together and for each other, and they had lots of fun and good memories…
To know Mario was to love him. He was a man of: principle, character, worked full out in everything he did, incredibly disciplined, had amazing stamina, was incredibly strong, very talented, he taught himself how to: speak, read and write English, be a mechanic, carpenter, electrician, plumber, gardener, photography, and anything he put his mind to he would accomplish… He had the best sense of humor and loved to make other people laugh. He was always interested in how others were doing; no matter how sick he was, he would ask you how you were doing, and if he could do anything for you… He was passionate and had a temper, but knew how to say he was sorry and mean it. He never went to bed without saying good night to Maria, and ended the day on a peaceful note…
He was truly unique and had some traits and saying onto himself like:
– His favorite number was Eleventeen
– Every woman / girl he met he’d call them Joanne, they would correct him and he’d say oh I’m sorry Joanne.
– Every boy / man he’d meet he’d call them Fritz and do the same.
– He could whistle crystal clear like a bird, and when he was working this is how he passed his time, by whistling a beautiful song.
– Great sense of humor
– Always had candy in his pocket and would offer to share them with you.
– Generous to a fault, and would lend and give his: tools, trucks, time, money, and knowledge to anyone who would ask him, & he never asked for a penny more in return than he generously would lend out to you.
– He was a great: man, husband, provider, dad, Nonno, neighbor, friend, uncle, co-worker, supervisor, and patient.
– Loved his favorite programs on TV: Any Western or Cowboy show, Che Post E Per Te, anything with children singing, News programs, shows that had to do with Home and or Carpentry, and last but not least Dancing with the Stars.
– He would travel to Kelowna just to go see his grandkids for their birthdays and special events, so he could be there for them & his daughter while he was still in good health.
– His advice to others: try to be good – you don’t have to, but try… when you are going through a hard time, just keep going… Work day by day and think about today for tomorrow, and just get a little bit more ahead; then eventually you will be in a good position… and if you tell him something bad his response would be: what can you do, it’s just one of them things…
Mario passed away peacefully, and was surrounded by his immediate family… When he saw Maria it was love at first sight, he had found the love he was searching for his entire life. For the 50 years he spent with Mom, and the life they created together, it was the best time of his life. He will be missed, but this isn’t the end, he lives on in his children and grandchildren. Mario’s energy will never die because he touched each and every one of us, and we’ll carry him in our minds and hearts forever… our dad to his family will always be remembered for what matters most in life: Love… Thank you
