Obituary of Ilia Anastasia BAISI (nee Fortini)

September 14, 1932 – Vagli di Sotto, Toscana, Italy
October 6, 2020 – Calgary, Alberta

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Ilia Anastasia Baisi (nee Fortini) on Tuesday, October 6, 2020, at the Calgary Bow Crest Long Term Care Home. 

Ilia was born on September 14, 1932 in Vagli di Sotto, Toscana, Italy, and was the only child of Corrina and Giuseppe Fortini. She married Elio Baisi on September 22, 1951. In November of 1958, she immigrated to Canada via Halifax with her two sons to join Elio, who had come to Canada two years earlier. It was a daunting journey, leaving her family and traveling by train to France to board a ship for the Atlantic Crossing. Arriving in Montreal, they boarded another train to Calgary, AB. The family settled in Calgary and rented an apartment from relatives before moving into a rented one-bedroom bungalow in Hillhurst.

Eventually, Ilia found work at the Park Lane Restaurant in the North Hill Mall and worked her way up to cook. Ilia walked up and down the 14th Street hill every day to go to and from work. Later in her career, Ilia worked at various places including Sir Winston Churchill High School, The Ranchmen’s Club, and the University of Calgary, all in the food service industry.

In 1967, she and Elio bought their first house in Varsity Acres. In 1974, they moved to the new subdivision of Silver Springs.

Since 1967, Ilia attended Mass at St Luke’s Roman Catholic Church. Ilia was devoted to saying the Holy Rosary, and also supported the Catholic orphanage in Padua, Italy for many years. Around her home were pictures and statues that gave witness to her faith.

We fondly remember many lunches and dinners around Ilia’s table. The conversations were warm and animated, and the food overflowed our capacity to consume: pasta, focaccia, chicken, roast, vegetables and more! Zuppa Inglese for dessert! Yum! She had a warm, kind and caring personality that people gravitated to. She just wanted her family to be happy and whole.

Ilia is survived by her husband of sixty-nine years Elio, her sons, Doriano (Patricia) and Giuseppe (Patricia) Baisi; her grandchildren, Jennifer Milat (Don), Cynthia Holborn (Dennis) and Annette Baisi; and her great-grandchildren, Samantha Holborn, Spencer Holborn, Joshua Baisi and Isabelle Baisi.  She is also survived by relatives in both Calgary and Italy. Ilia was predeceased by her parents, Giuseppe and Corrina Fortini of Marlia, Italy.  

Relatives and friends are invited to Prayers and Tributes at McINNIS & HOLLOWAY (Crowfoot, 82 Crowfoot Circle NW, Calgary, AB) on Tuesday, October 13, 2020 at 7:00 p.m.

Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Luke’s Catholic Church (Corner of Northmount Drive & Northland Drive N.W., Calgary, AB) on Wednesday, October 14, 2020 at 11:00 a.m. Condolences, memories and photos may be shared and viewed on Ilia’s obituary at www.McInnisandHolloway.com.

Due to dementia, Ilia resided the last one and half years of her life at the Bow-Crest Long Term Care Home. The Family would like to thank Dr. Packer and the staff for their attentive care to her needs.

In living memory of Ilia Baisi, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McINNIS & HOLLOWAY FUNERAL HOMES, Crowfoot, 82 CROWFOOT CIRCLE NW, CALGARY, AB T3G 2T3, Telephone: 403-241-0044.