Obituary of Giovanni Mario BENACCHIO

January 28, 1937 – San Zenone, Degli Ezzelini, Treviso, Italy December 10, 2015 – Calgary, Alberta Giovanni “John” Benacchio, beloved husband of Armida Benacchio of Calgary, passed away on Thursday, December 10, 2015 at the age of 78 years. Giovanni left Italy in 1956 at the age of 19 for a better life and moved to Canada. He settled in Calgary, Alberta after travelling and working throughout Western, Eastern and Northern Canada. Giovanni returned to Italy in 1964 where he met his wife and soulmate Armida Nicola. They were married in Italy and returned to Calgary on September 2, 1964. Giovanni worked as a bricklayer/mason as well as a tile setter. Giovanni was a head foreman on many large construction projects throughout Calgary. Giovanni’s most special and challenging project was the first underground house in Millarville, Alberta known as the Hobbit House. Giovanni was able to use his creativity and knowledge to create a house that was self sustaining year round. It was built in 1970 with the use of natural products from the surrounding land. Giovanni loved the mountains where he spent time with his family camping, fishing and hunting. He was an avid outdoors man. In the summertime you would find Giovanni working in in his garden and greenhouse where he spent many hours with his tomatoes. Giovanni enjoyed his yearly trips to Las Vegas and Mexico with friends. He also enjoyed sharing a bottle of his homemade wine with his family and friends. He made many life long friends and he will be remembered for his storytelling, laughter and zest for life. Giovanni is survived by his loving wife Armida; daughter and son-in-law Sandra and Derek Hasegawa; son Roberto and his common-law wife Mandi; son and daughter-in-law Egidio and Nikki; grandchildren, Chad, Kent, Egidio, Antonio, Matteo, and Tavia; brothers, Ernesto, Carlo and Eugenio; and sisters, Rosina, Ausilia and Ida. He was predeceased by his father Antonio Benacchio; mother Ida; stepmother Maria and brothers Egidio and Luigi Benacchio. Relatives and friends are invited to Prayers and Tributes at McINNIS & HOLLOWAY (Chapel of the Bells, 2720 Centre Street North) on Sunday, December 20, 2015 at 7:00 p.m. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Peter’s Catholic Church (541 Silvergrove Drive N.W.) on Monday, December 21, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. Condolences may be forwarded through . In lieu of flowers, memorial tributes in Giovanni’s honour may be made directly to the Alberta Cancer Foundation, c/o Tom Baker Cancer Centre, 1331 – 29 Street N.W., Calgary, AB T2N 4N2 Telephone: 1 (866) 412-4222. . In living memory of Giovanni Benacchio, a tree will be planted at Fish Creek Provincial Park by McINNIS & HOLLOWAY FUNERAL HOMES, Chapel of the Bells, 2720 CENTRE STREET NORTH, Telephone: 403-276-2296.