Franca Rinaldo (nee Franca Josephina Lucia Spagnol), passed away peacefully on March 24, 2025 at the age of 84 at the Royal Jubilee Hospital in Victoria, BC with her family by her side. Franca was predeceased by her parents, Frank Spagnol and Maria Spagnol (nee Ambrosi), husband Bruno Rinaldo, and survived by her two half sisters, Ines Medvedic and Tosca.

Franca was born July 21,1940 to Frank and Maria Spagnol in Zara, Italy now known as Zadar, Croatia. Franca had fond memories of her childhood in Zara where her parents owned and operated a small Gelateria on the coast of the Adriatic Sea. This experience left Franca with lasting memories to be cherished and embraced throughout her lifetime. Franca found peace by the sea and was proud of her Italian/Croatian heritage.

At the end WWII, the Dalmatia coast fell into the hands of the dictator, Tito, who turned Franca’s family into refugees who sought assylum in Naples. This devastation forced the family to immigrate to Canada to start a new life. Franca and her Mother arrived in Halifax by ship to Pier 21, after which they travelled by train to Calgary, Alberta to join her Father where they eventually settled down and started up a restaurant business in the downtown core.

In August 1962, Franca met Bruno and they married shortly after on December 29th of the same year. Franca and Bruno had their first child in 1963. They then moved to a ten acre orchard in Kelowna (Rutland) where their family grew to four children. Franca was a dedicated mother to Lidia (Earl), Sage (nee Anna) (Denis), Davide (Helen) and Dino (Rosaura); a beloved grandmother to Lance (Shauna), Allison (Paul), Matthew and Angelina; and a great-grandmother to Avery, Amelia and Nicolas.

Franca was a full time homemaker and a dedicated mother through good times and bad. She planned, prepared and cooked all the delicious Italian meals for the family while diligently ensuring the house chores were completed as well as finding time to maintain the vegetable and flower gardens.

In 1985, Franca and Bruno purchased and managed the Fuller Lake Motel at Chemainus, BC for four years, before they decided to slow down a bit. In 1989 Franca and Bruno moved to a newly built home in Victoria (Sunnymeade) for another four years. She and Bruno then found their dream retirement home in Dashwood, near Qualicum Beach, BC in 1993. They had a large bungalow on five acres of property with a forest entrance to the house. The gardens overlooked the Straight of Georgia, Texada Island and Sunshine Coast. Franca loved being surrounded by nature, plants, and flowers that flourished from the benefits of her gardening skills. She enjoyed and welcomed the many birds, the goldfish in their pond, garter snakes in the grass, even a hungry black bear that arrived as an unexpected guest passing through her yard.  Franca was a loving and kind soul to all beings.

Franca lived and cherished her Italian culture and moments with her family at the dinner table while everyone enjoyed her home cooked Italian meals. She enjoyed making gnocchi at the kitchen table, baking biscotti for Christmas, sunbathing on her deck, listening to her favourite opera (Madame Butterfly by Puccini), or watching Spaghetti Westerns with her husband.

Franca was a devoted wife to Bruno for 60 years. They enjoyed travelling to many different countries in Europe, Central America and South America. Even after Bruno’s diagnosis of vascular dementia and his subsequent move to an extended care facility, she steadfastly visited him at least three times a week. Throughout her life, Franca was also a faithful and active member of the Catholic Church and rarely missed Mass on Sunday no matter where she was in the world.

A Catholic Funeral Mass will be held at Sacred Heart Church, 4040 Nelthorpe Street in Victoria on Wednesday April 9th at 12 pm. Reception to foolow in the Parish Hall.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy can be shared with the family in the condolences section below. Donations in Franca’s memory may be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation https://app-hsfdonation.heart…

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