Obituary of Cosma Danila LUVISOTTO

February 12, 1934 – Calgary, Alberta

March 31, 2020 – Toronto, Ontario

It is with profound sadness that the family of Cosma Danila Luvisotto announce her passing on Tuesday, March 31, 2020, at the age of 86 years.

Cosma (Cos) was born and raised in Calgary, AB. She was the youngest of six children and was the only one of her siblings to be born in Canada, following the immigration of her parents and siblings from Castions Di Zoppola, Italy.

Cosma was exceptionally proud of her Italian heritage and was deeply attached to the community in which she grew up in Northeast Calgary – “Bridgeland-Riverside” and her beloved “3rd Avenue NE”, just up the hill from her home parish, Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church. She attended St. Angela’s and St. Anne’s schools and graduated from St. Mary’s Girls’ High School in 1952 as Class President. She commenced her years in education in 1954 and held thirty-six years of continuous service with Calgary Catholic Schools - teaching elementary, junior high, high school, and English as a Second Language. Cosma also served as a Supervisor and Consultant with the Catholic Board of Education until her retirement in 1990.

Cosma was active in the Alberta Teachers' Association, was one of the founding Directors of the Calgary Italian School, Chairman of the Faithful Companions of Jesus (FCJ) Scholarship Committee (1979-1997), FCJ Associate Member, and was President of the Calgary Catholic Schools Retired Teachers' Association from 1990-1997. In 1998, Cosma moved to Toronto to be close to her daughter, Terri (who was proudly born and raised in Calgary as well) and commenced her new designation as Nonna to her beloved grandson, Aaron Benjamin, in 1999.

As a teacher, Cosma cultivated many close friendships in the schools in which she taught and over the years as a Supervisor with the Calgary Catholic Board of Education. She had many friends from religious orders who were also teachers, including her long-time cherished friend, advisor, and confidante, Sr. Mary Clare of the Poor Clare Sisters of Mission, BC, with whom she commenced her teaching career. She was also strongly connected to the Sisters of Charity of St. Louis in Calgary and Burnaby, BC; as well as the Faithful Companions of Jesus in Calgary.

Throughout her life, Cosma was an avid sports enthusiast and was a Calgary Stampeders fan through and through, watching the Stamps play when it was 10 cents a ticket. Some of her youngest students were even treated to a guest appearance by one of the Stamps quarterbacks during a particularly memorable teaching session in the classroom at St. Charles School. Cosma loved all aspects of teaching and made sure she passed along not only academic pearls but also the secrets of throwing the perfect football spiral and the fine nuances of baseball pitches; she taught her students to love music, singing in the choir, and performing in school drama productions celebrating various festivals like Thanksgiving or Christmas (often with very unique results). Cosma was deeply spiritual and always inclusive (never exclusive) in her faith and instilled within her students a profound respect for their religious education and guided them in the ways they needed to live life in order to “turn words into action”. Justice, honesty and integrity were three of the key concepts she fostered within the hearts and minds of her students and lived her own life upholding from birth right up to her very final day on earth.

Later in Cosma’s career, it seemed she could go just about anywhere in Calgary and run into a former student. They always recognized her, despite the passage of time, and would universally thank her for having inspired them to pursue their dreams and for the confidence she always placed in them to achieve those aspirations with hard work and perseverance. Over the years her daughter, Terri, would often say to her, “Mom, did you teach everyone in Calgary?’ Her appreciative students were everywhere. She was immensely proud of her large clan of former pupils and their many accomplishments.

Cosma was also exceptionally proud of her daughter, Terri (or “Puddin” as she called her right from the moment of her birth) and her grandson, Aaron. Cosma and Terri were mother and daughter and closest of friends. Together they shared much joy, laughter (occasionally at “inappropriate” moments), mischief and an unwavering bond of love, respect, and faith in each other. With Aaron, Cosma was always a dedicated and wholeheartedly supportive grandmother: in Aaron’s words, “Nonna’s prayers are the best…” – always feeling he was in good spiritual hands boosted by his Nonna’s words of encouragement for each and every endeavour he pursued from birth, right up to his latest adventures in marine biology on a research vessel in the Gulf of Mexico.

Cosma is also lovingly remembered for her caring, wit, good humour and “joie de vivre” by her extended family: Melanio, Cosma’s “buddy” and devoted partner to her daughter, Terri; his daughters Monicca Catre-Hagarty (Patrick), Rebecca Catre, and Daena Catre – and numerous other extended family members and friends, all of Toronto, ON.

Cosma touched many souls throughout her life’s journey. We love her with all our hearts and will miss her.

Cosma is survived by her daughter, Terri Luvisotto (Melanio) and her grandson, Aaron Benjamin of Toronto, Ontario. Cosma is survived by Ruth (wife of Dennis) of Drumheller, AB, their children, Karen Pascut (Dan) of Grand Prairie, AB, Ryan Pascut (Tammy), Deanna Chambers (Chris), and Michelle Williams (Tyler) of Drumheller, AB, and Steven Pascut of Ottawa, ON; as well as the many beautiful grandchildren of Dennis and Ruth. Cosma is also survived by nephew David Pascut (Anne) of Creston, BC and their children David Jr. (Louise) of Calgary, AB, Michael (Emelyn) of Hannah, AB, and Greg of Creston, BC; niece Judith McCue (Edward Kibblewhite) and their daughter Jessica McCue Kibblewhite (Sam) of Chicago, IL; niece Karen of Queensland, Australia and nephew Marco McCue of New South Wales and nephews, James and Robert Luvisotto.

Cosma was predeceased by her parents, Luigi and Teresa (nee Peruch) Luvisotto, her siblings, Paulina Pascut (Tony), Jean McCue (Len), Johnny Luvisotto (Gina), Louie Lewis (Joan), and Peppy Luvisotto. She was also predeceased by her nephew Dennis Pascut.

Condolences, memories and photos may be shared and viewed on Cosma’s obituary at www.McInnisandHolloway.com. If friends so desire, memorial tributes may be made directly to the St. Clare's Monastery, Box 3370, Mission, BC V2V 4J5.

The family would also like to extend their heartfelt thanks to the caring staff of the Cardinal Ambrozic Houses of Providence in Toronto, for their loving care of Cosma during her final days and to the Michael Garron Hospital in Toronto, ON.

In living memory of Cosma Luvisotto, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McInnis and Holloway Funeral Homes, Park Memorial, 5008 Elbow Drive SW, Calgary, AB T2S 2L5, Telephone: 403-243-8200.