Obituary of Vanessa Bellardinelli

March 20, 1972 - Ancona, Italy

September 14, 2024 - Calgary, Alberta

“Love is the answer, and you know that for sure”

– John Lennon (Mind Games)

Vanessa Bellardinelli, adored wife of Julian, beloved mother of Seb and Jude, cherished daughter of Patricia and Roberto, and dearest sister of Corinna died Saturday, September 14, 2024, at the age of 52 years.

Born in Ancona during the aftershocks of the city’s 1972 earthquake, the foundation for Vanessa’s sweet life was set—her commitment to family; her unquestionable passion and love of life; and her excitable, unabating energy.

Raised amid the backdrop of Marche’s natural beauty, Vanessa was cherished by her extended family. Her paternal grandmother Nonna Ginetta left work to care for Vanessa when she was born, and her grandparents offered a constant, loving presence throughout her childhood. Vanessa’s beloved sister Corinna joined the close-knit family five years later and the special bond between them deepened across decades and oceans.

Vanessa studied civil engineering at Marche Polytechnic University in Ancona, completing her degree in 2000. She was in no rush to finish. Vanessa lived by the sea, surrounded by vineyards, picturesque bays and mountains and she had such fun and friendship to revel in. It’s a constant theme that would carry through Vanessa’s life, a kind of balance that came naturally to her. Around the midpoint of her degree, Vanessa met a young English teacher in her home city. The unwitting Englishman, Julian, was captivated wholly by Vanessa’s charm and was smitten in less than two minutes.

Theirs was a partnership of mutual respect that came naturally and easily to them. Vanessa and Julian shared a common view of the world that people, circumstances and ideas should be treated with compassion and respect. They loved to do things together and had many interests in common—a love for similar books and music, a shared passion for football (soccer), theatre, socializing and travel. And while they didn’t set out to take life lessons from the Beatles, they realized a simple truth: “The love you take, is equal to the love you make.”

Starting in 2000, Vanessa pursued her profession across three continents. She moved first to London, where her career began, then to Brisbane and Melbourne, Australia, in 2005. After Seb was conceived in 2006, the promise of an idyllic life drew the family back to Ancona. By now a skilled and experienced engineer, Vanessa found the local opportunities in engineering limited. Undaunted, she turned her hand to translations. The family thrived in many ways, but by the time Jude was born in 2011, Vanessa and Julian were ready for a new challenge and the family uprooted in 2013 to Calgary.

Vanessa thrived in her work in Cow Town. She worked hard and was taken seriously, and she loved that. An inspiring leader, she brought her passion for life to the workplace, to her colleagues and to the many projects she led; and through her natural talent, she made progress and carved out a successful career. She championed women in engineering at Klohn and enjoyed her role as Leader of Capital Contract Management at the City of Calgary.

While Vanessa was a successful P.Eng, her focus was family life with Julian, the boys and Pixie, their beloved cat of nine years. Vanessa was an amazing mom. She loved walking and going to parks with the boys, keenly followed their progress in football (soccer) and, importantly, talked with Seb and Jude about their lives and their ideas. None of this was lost on Jude who describes his mom as his “life advisor” because she was always so full of good advice.

Vanessa wanted her boys to enjoy the freedom to think independently and exposed them to a wide mix of ideas and people. As an Italian mamma, Vanessa was nonetheless highly protective. She was passionate about the nutritious homemade meals she prepared and shared with the boys and supported their connections with family and friends. With the kind of extraordinary devotion many who knew Vanessa will immediately recognize in their friend, Patricia and Roberto have Facetimed Seb and Jude from Italy almost every day they’ve been apart over the past eleven years.

Vanessa was humble about her many accomplishments. She was an avid poetry writer who won awards; was a resourceful chef who established the YouTube cooking channel Italian Food Easy Peasy with sister Corinna; was an author who wrote, published and sold the children’s book The Bipolar Bear; and, yes, was an undeniable Fantasy Football champion. Her energy, talents and generosity were immense.

Personally, Vanessa was a lifeforce—funny, warm, grounded and gregarious. She loved people and was, in turn, highly likable, dedicating herself to the deep friendships she formed. She was honest about her thoughts and feelings, unwaveringly authentic (even when judging your tiramisu—a dessert specialty Vanessa was known for). She was physically strong and confident, conveyed her point of view with strength and integrity, sometimes shot from the hip, never held a grudge and never shied away from a challenge. As Seb puts it, “She was fearless and could overcome any challenge before her.”

And, most importantly, she was utterly infused with love.

A Celebration of Vanessa’s Life will be held at McInnis & Holloway (Park Memorial, 5008 Elbow Drive SW, Calgary, AB) on Saturday, September 21, 2024, at 10:30. Reception to follow in the Hospitality Centre at the Funeral Home.

Family and friends who are unable to attend in person are invited to join Vanessa’s service streamed live (see link below) on the day of the service. For those who are unable to view live, a recording of the service will be posted.

Condolences, memories, and photos may be shared and viewed with Vanessa’s family here.

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

Click to Sign the Video Guest Book and Watch Vanessa Bellardinelli’s Funeral Service