Obituary of Michele Torriero

September 5, 1939 – Lanciano, Italy

January 4, 2023 – Calgary, Alberta

It is with great sadness and a heavy heart that we announce the passing of Michele Torriero. He died peacefully after a joyful New Year celebration in his favourite place, with his beloved wife Tettina Torriero (nee Rosato), and family at his bedside on January 4, 2023, at the age of 83 years.

Michele was born on September 5, 1939, in Lanciano, Italy. The first of ten children born to Domenico and Giovina Torriero.

As a teenager and young adult, Michele worked in various jobs to help support his parents’ growing family. He married his sweetheart, and love of his life, Tettina on March 8, 1962, and immigrated to Calgary, AB, a year later, where they started their new life and family, with the birth of their children Domenic, Carla, and Franco.

Over the years Michele worked in various jobs and eventually started an auto-body shop with his brothers Paul, and later Carmen, and Vando. After many years, Michele semi-retired but kept himself busy with a family business, and golfing whenever possible while enjoying his free time with his growing family. Michele’s sole motivation was to provide a good life for his wife and family.

Michele will be most remembered as a loving, soft-spoken man, who didn’t say a lot, but his comments were always thoughtful and had significance. A true gentleman.

An avid outdoorsman, Michele enjoyed camping, hunting, fishing, golfing, and skiing, always in the company of his closest friends and family. Michele and Tettina loved to travel and enjoyed family trips. Eventually having a second home in Mexico, he happily traded in his skis for a palapa, often there with his best friend, and brother-in-law Guerino, and his sister Maria.

His family was the center of his life. He was always happiest with Tettina, his children, and all his grandchildren gathered at their house for a meal or the annual canning of tomatoes.

Besides his loving wife Tettina, Michele is survived by his children Domenic (Leslie) Torriero, Carla (Tony) Rizzuti, and Franco (Melissa) Torriero; Six grandchildren, Michael, Matthew (fiancé Marisol), Andrea, Sabrina (Coltyn), Sophia, and Marcello.

Michele is also survived by his brothers and sisters, Maria Sorrentino (Guerino), Assunta Rapini (Pietro), Paulo (Lina), Rita DiCampli (Vincenzo), Nick, Carmen (Mary), Joe (Rosemary), Vando (Elsie); and sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Giulia Sorrentino, Nella Ramundo (Angelo), Maria DiBucchianico, Nicoletta Rosato, Cammilo Rosato, Rita Rosato, and Maria Rosato, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Michele was predeceased by his parents, Domenico and Giovina Torriero, brother Giuseppe, and brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Amedeo Sorrentino, Pierino DiBucchianico, Sebastiano Rosato, Gino Rosato.

Relatives and friends are invited to Funeral Mass at St. Peter’s Catholic Church on Thursday, January 12, 2023, at 1:00 pm.

In lieu of flowers, memorial tributes can be made in Michele’s name to the Canadian Cancer Society.

In living memory of Michele Torriero, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McInnis & Holloway Funeral Homes, Chapel of the Bells, 2720 Centre Street North, Calgary, AB T2E 2V6, Telephone: 403-243-8200.