Nazzarena Milan (Nee Rubino) – February 2nd, 1927 to November 29th, 2020
Nazzarena (Nena) was born i n Vibo Valentia, Calabria to Nicola Rubino and Mariana Mancuso. She was the youngest of Four children: Maria, Rosario (Saro), and Giuseppe (Joe). In 1956 like many Italians at the time she migrated to Vancouver via Halifax. She married Domenico Sorrentino at Sacred Heart (founded i n 1905 i n Strathcona). Seven months later she was widowed and two months after that her first daughter was born. Nazzarena and Domenico owned one of the first Italian Markets on Windermere Street which she ran until 1959. To continue to support herself and daughter she worked at McLaren’s Olives until her marriage to Domenico (Cesere Milan) in 1960. Together they had Two daughters. In the 1970’s she worked at the Pacific National Exhibition until retirement. Nazzarena and Domenico both worked hard and made a stable life for themselves and their Three children. In 1985. Nazzarena was widowed and continued to live in and maintain their home until her move to Royal Ascot Care Home in 2017. We’re very grateful for the attentiveness and kindness given to our mother by the staff i n the different departments during her stay there. Nazzarena was a deeply religious Roman Catholic. In Vibo Valentia, Calabria her family lived next to the village church and convent. She was a parishioner of St Francis of Assisi for Sixty years and a member of the “Over 50 Club” there for Twenty. She also attended masses at Our Lady of Sorrows from time to time. We feel blessed at the good fortune to have Father Gino rush to her bedside to give the l ast rites minutes before her death. She’ll be lovingly remembered and sadly missed by her three daughters, Maria (Ross), Leila (Carlo) and Gina (Joe); four granddaughters, Kasandra (Karim), Claudia, Keila and Audrie, and great grandson Arlo. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00am Monday December 07, 2020 at St. Francis of Assisi Church, 2025 Napier St., Vancouver, B.C. Interment to follow at Mountain View Cemetery. Due to restrictions Funeral Service by invitation only.