'' I love you in ways that are infinite

  and as in eternity have no beginning or end''

                          - Elizabeth Barrett Browning

   With a broken heart filled with grief, I announce that my mother Antonietta Valletta Borrelli returned home to God on December 28, 2025 at the fantastic age of 95. She took her last earthly breath peacefully and exquisitely surrounded by love.

   Beloved wife of the late Attilio Borrelli, and beloved mother of the late Maria Teresa Borrelli (m. Luigi Santoianni), she will be remembered for her devotion to family and having lived a life of principal and fundamental values which were that of true empathy, compassion, genuine kindness and the most humble heart. And, during our darkest days after the death of my sister, her strength and indomitable spirit nurtured my family despite a pain no words can render. I then became her entire universe as she became mine, growing dearer and dearer to my heart.

   In this time of grief and remembrance, I felt it to be my duty to write this notice for her having given me a lifetime of unimaginable support and for filling my heart every day with love. I would be remiss if I did not pay homage to her memory.

   Writing here, in our much-loved house, I am surrounded by reminders of the various stages of her life and the things she cherished most. In every room, I am constantly reminded of our journey, the people and the things that shaped us. Here are our roots that nurtured our beliefs.

   My mother and I had similar values and shared many interests. Our appreciation of nature and the beauty that surrounds us gave meaning to our existence. The resilience seen in the lily of the valley flowers quickly spreading in our rock garden, in our fairy roses and fifty six year old peony planted in memory of my late grandfather, always filled us with a sense of wonder, inner peace and hope for a better tomorrow. We also found beautiful, enchanting ways to enrich our lives through needle and thread from my lifelong passion of needlework. We would spend countless hours searching for the most exquisite and intricate designs that spoke to our souls. Every handmade piece represents the tapestry of our lives to be forever treasured. Our last project which she so lovingly watched me stitch this past summer, will be dedicated to her memory in recognition of the love and courage given to me to dream and succeed. And so we will always be together.

   It has truly been one of the greatest privileges of my life to companion my mother into the depths of the journey of her life and my heart is full of gratitude for the great gift of self she has given me. She was and always has been, my best gift and I have been blessed beyond words for having shared so much of my life with hers.

   I now lovingly entrust her soul to God's infinite mercy. May she be granted eternal rest amongst loved ones, with my father, the love of her life and with my sister, whose death untimely borne. Finally together without fear, trusting in God, with faith, hope and love.

   I will mourn profoundly the death of my dear mama. 

In loving and devoted memory,   

                     - Silvana Borrelli           

The family will receive condolences on January 7, 2026, from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. and from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. and on January 8, 2026, from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. at the Urgel Bourgie Funeral Complex, located at 6700 Beaubien Street East in Montreal.

A mass will be celebrated on January 8, 2026, 10:00 a.m. at Our Lady of Mont-Carmel Church, located at 7645 du Mans Street in Saint-Léonard. The entombment will follow at the Repos Saint-Francois d’Assise Cemetery, located at 6893 Sherbrooke Street East in Montreal.