Obituary of Flora Ghione

FLORA GHIONE

(née Carabalona)

January 3, 1923 - August 22, 2023

We sadly announce the peaceful passing of Flora, the matriarch of the Ghione family, in her 101st year. She was in the loving care of her children until the end.

She will be missed by her children, Ivo, Nadia Popovich (Eli) and Robert (Susan); grandchildren, Nicole Popovich, Lisa, Yvette and André Ghione and Victoria Ghione; great grandchildren, Isabella Massey and Gianluca and Lucia Perin; niece Aileen Colautti Maddison and nephew Raymond Colautti. She also leaves behind extended family and friends in Canada, France, Italy and Monaco.

Flora was predeceased by her parents; husband, Giovanni; sisters, Pierina Comoglio and Andreina Colautti; and grandsons John Popovich and Christopher Ghione.

Born in Tende, Italy, in 1923 to Andrea Carabalona and Elisabetta Vassallo, she was the youngest of three daughters. She was as unique as her hometown in the Maritime Alps, which was under French and Italian rule throughout the centuries. Although Italian, she celebrated both cultures through her love of the arts, history and cuisine. It was not uncommon for her to flit from language to language, including dialects learned in her youth, during conversations with family and friends.

Her attention to detail, elegance and innate sense of dressing for the occasion started at an early age, with her stylish sisters as her mentors. She had an appreciation for social graces and doing things well, all of which were woven into the experiences she shared with her family.

She married Giovanni Ghione in 1942, and they began their life together in Piemonte, Italy, settling after the Second World War in the town of Cavallermaggiore near his extended family. They spent many happy years there, taking over Giovanni’s father’s macelleria and starting a family before immigrating to Canada and making a new home in Windsor, Ontario, in 1949.

Although Flora was petite in stature, her strength of character and courage of conviction were larger than life. She led by example with grace and elegance. She felt that exercising patience, speaking less and listening more were valuable practices - lessons she endeavored to teach her outspoken children and grandchildren. She was well read, politically aware and knowledgeable about popular culture, and was considered one of the most interesting and funniest people in the family. There was never a dull moment in conversation at the kitchen table because she was a living history lesson, having lived long enough to see both the good and bad in the world, many times over.

After the job of raising her children, a role that filled her with great pride, and the passing of her husband in 1984, she dedicated her time to charitable pursuits and furthering her faith within the St. Angela Merici Church community. Activities included RCIA education, pastoral care, reading at weekly masses and fundraising to support the church, including membership in the parish’s Catholic Women’s League. These brought her immense joy and camaraderie. Flora and her friends lived the faith and culture, giving back to the community through their many skills, just as their mothers had done before them, but in a thoroughly modern way.

Always up for an adventure, she took pleasure in the annual travels organized by the church community and in visiting her family in France, Italy and Monaco throughout the years.

Flora long admired Eleanor Roosevelt, and a particular quote by the First Lady became even truer with the passage of time:

“Beautiful young people are accidents of nature, but beautiful old people are works of art.”

Flora was a true work of art honed on a remarkable life journey of more than 100 years, living on two continents, travelling the world, loving and laughing. She created her own unique masterpiece of memories for friends and family to reflect on and draw wisdom from that will last for years to come.

Visitation will be held at Windsor Chapel Funeral Home on 1700 Tecumseh Road East on August 27, 2023, from 2:00-5:00 pm and 7:00-9:00 pm. The funeral will take place at St. Angela Merici Church on August 28, 2023, at 11:00 am.

The family thanks Dr. David Scarfone, the personal support workers and the palliative care services of the Hospice of Windsor and Essex County for allowing her to end her remarkable life with the grace and dignity in which she lived.

In memoriam, donations may be made to St. Angela Merici Church and the Hospice of Windsor and Essex County Inc.