Obituary of Leonardo De Maria

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of beloved husband, father and grandfather Leonardo De Maria (née September 10, 1926) on November 23, 2021.

He was born in Alberona, Foggia, Italy to Donato De Maria and Angela Forgione (siblings, Giuseppe De Maria – deceased and Antonio De Maria) where he spent his formative years before emigrating to Buenos Aires, Argentina in search of a better life for himself and his parents. While life did not present an easy road, Leonardo worked hard and made a new life with his wife, Giovanna Galati. They married in 1954 and had two children, Angelica and Vincenza De Maria before making his way to Toronto, Ontario with family in tow in 1959 where the family settled.

A true Renaissance Man or L'Uomo Universale, Leonardo’s hunger for knowledge ran deep — he loved books, with a particular fascination for science, literature, and history. He was a tinkerer, bricklayer, stone worker, gardener, but most notably for those who knew and loved him, Leonardo was a passionate storyteller. All of these things allowed him to build a life rich in skill and soul. He was a man with a tough exterior but an immensely gentle heart, who never hesitated to lend a helping hand or come to the aid of others.

Leonardo is survived by his wife Giovanna, his daughters Angelica and Vincenza, and his three granddaughters, Ariana Gutierrez, and Alanna and Lauren Smith.

Rest easy, Leonardo. You will be missed.

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A memorial service will be held on Sunday, December 5, 2021, at 2:00 p.m. at Dixon-Garland Funeral Home in the chapel. There is a maximum of 30 people permitted in the space due to ongoing COVID-19 restrictions, so please RSVP so that we can keep track of who will be in attendance. 

We ask that all those attending be fully vaccinated, and proof of vaccination may be required upon arrival. As this is an indoor event, masks must be worn. There will not be a reception following the memorial.

We also ask that you contribute a short memory and/or piece of advice that Leonardo gave you or possibly a photograph if you have one.  These do not need to be shared aloud but can be given to the family. 

Those wishing to honour him may want to donate to Fondazione SYLVA https://fondazionesylva.com .