Giustino Fraraccio
It is with immense sadness that we announce the passing of Mr. Giustino Fraraccio, on March 9, 2021, at the age of 90, following a sudden and brief illness.
Beloved husband of 65 years to Carmelina Cimaglia, cherished father of Johnny (Linda), Anna Maria (Denis), Renzo (Nellie) and Linda (Domenic), loving grandfather of Jason (Amanda), Justin, Laura, Elizabeth, Samantha and step-grandchildren Marc-Antoine and Ariana, as well as great-grandchildren Ronan, Raven and Jackson. The eldest of 5 siblings, he will also be missed by his sister Esterina, his brother in Italy Severino (Maria), his brother Nicola (Gisèle), his sister Ines in Australia, as well as his sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law and many relatives and friends. His passing also leaves a great void in his pastoral community.
Giustino was born on November 4th, 1930 in San Pietro in Valle, a small village in the municipality of Frosolone, Italy. After serving in the army, he boarded a ship in 1955 to join his young bride Carmelina in Canada. They raised their 4 children in St. Léonard, Québec while taking English and French courses to better themselves. Like many at the time, he came from little means and education, but always sought out to do more with his life.
After a series of jobs, Giustino ventured off and went into business with his younger brother Nicola. He ran an office supply and book shop in Boucherville for 10 years, serving a largely francophone clientele, gradually devouring book after book. A natural-born leader, he was a proud member of the Associazione Frosolonese, and also served for years as President of his children’s high school Parents’ Committee.
At the age of 60, Giustino sold his business to pursue his true calling in life and began religious studies at Cégep Marie-Victorin. After 7 years of preparation, he was ordained as a Catholic deacon, with his wife by his side, becoming the first Italian-immigrant deacon in Québec. His ministry began at Notre-Dame-de-la-Consolata church and ended with him serving at Notre-Dame-de-Pompei, Sainte-Gertrude, and Santa Famiglia churches simultaneously. Just before his passing, he was the oldest deacon in Montreal still serving the community.
For more than 2 decades, he assisted at mass and marriages, led prayer groups, created and ran marriage courses for young couples, provided one-on-one counseling for hundreds of people, and performed countless baptisms. Never taking one dime for his work, Giustino never considered himself retired and was active at church until a month before his passing. He was patient and wise, very dedicated and was highly respected by his peers. He was kind, had smiling eyes, was a second father to some, and a mentor to many. He was cherished and loved by everyone and will be dearly missed by all those whose lives he touched with his blessings. May he rest in eternal peace.
Due to government restrictions, there will be a private Funeral held on Monday, March 15th at 8:00 am. By invitation only, an intimate funeral service will follow at 11:00 am at Notre-Dame-de-Pompei church. However, the service will be viewable on Facebook Live: https://www.facebook.com/PompeiMontreal
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his memory to:
https://fondationicm.org/en/how-to-donate/
https://www.fondationhmr.ca/en/
The family would like to extend their gratitude to the staff at the Montreal Heart Institute and Maisonneuve Hospital for their compassion and care, especially Dr. Céline Chayer, and to his family doctor Dr. Anne Brodersen.
Beloved husband of 65 years to Carmelina Cimaglia, cherished father of Johnny (Linda), Anna Maria (Denis), Renzo (Nellie) and Linda (Domenic), loving grandfather of Jason (Amanda), Justin, Laura, Elizabeth, Samantha and step-grandchildren Marc-Antoine and Ariana, as well as great-grandchildren Ronan, Raven and Jackson. The eldest of 5 siblings, he will also be missed by his sister Esterina, his brother in Italy Severino (Maria), his brother Nicola (Gisèle), his sister Ines in Australia, as well as his sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law and many relatives and friends. His passing also leaves a great void in his pastoral community.
Giustino was born on November 4th, 1930 in San Pietro in Valle, a small village in the municipality of Frosolone, Italy. After serving in the army, he boarded a ship in 1955 to join his young bride Carmelina in Canada. They raised their 4 children in St. Léonard, Québec while taking English and French courses to better themselves. Like many at the time, he came from little means and education, but always sought out to do more with his life.
After a series of jobs, Giustino ventured off and went into business with his younger brother Nicola. He ran an office supply and book shop in Boucherville for 10 years, serving a largely francophone clientele, gradually devouring book after book. A natural-born leader, he was a proud member of the Associazione Frosolonese, and also served for years as President of his children’s high school Parents’ Committee.
At the age of 60, Giustino sold his business to pursue his true calling in life and began religious studies at Cégep Marie-Victorin. After 7 years of preparation, he was ordained as a Catholic deacon, with his wife by his side, becoming the first Italian-immigrant deacon in Québec. His ministry began at Notre-Dame-de-la-Consolata church and ended with him serving at Notre-Dame-de-Pompei, Sainte-Gertrude, and Santa Famiglia churches simultaneously. Just before his passing, he was the oldest deacon in Montreal still serving the community.
For more than 2 decades, he assisted at mass and marriages, led prayer groups, created and ran marriage courses for young couples, provided one-on-one counseling for hundreds of people, and performed countless baptisms. Never taking one dime for his work, Giustino never considered himself retired and was active at church until a month before his passing. He was patient and wise, very dedicated and was highly respected by his peers. He was kind, had smiling eyes, was a second father to some, and a mentor to many. He was cherished and loved by everyone and will be dearly missed by all those whose lives he touched with his blessings. May he rest in eternal peace.
Due to government restrictions, there will be a private Funeral held on Monday, March 15th at 8:00 am. By invitation only, an intimate funeral service will follow at 11:00 am at Notre-Dame-de-Pompei church. However, the service will be viewable on Facebook Live: https://www.facebook.com/PompeiMontreal
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his memory to:
https://fondationicm.org/en/how-to-donate/
https://www.fondationhmr.ca/en/
The family would like to extend their gratitude to the staff at the Montreal Heart Institute and Maisonneuve Hospital for their compassion and care, especially Dr. Céline Chayer, and to his family doctor Dr. Anne Brodersen.