Obituary of Filomena Bigioni

September 26, 1936 – February 23, 2026

With her children by her side, Filomena passed peacefully in her 89th year.

Affectionately known as Mom, Nonna, Biz Nonna, Phyllis, Filo, and Filomena, she was a cherished presence in the lives of all who knew and loved her.

A devoted and loving mother, she leaves behind her children, Giorgina and Vito. She was a kind and generous mother-in-law to the late Peter Soumalias and to Sandra Bigioni. Filomena was the beloved grandmother of Paul, Max, and Emily, and lovingly embraced Yiannis (Ashley), Marissa (Alex), Alexandra (Abdi), and her great-grandsons Andreas, Teòdor, and Konstantine as her family.

She is reunited with the love of her life, Secondo, who predeceased her in 2007 after more than 50 years of a long and devoted union. She is also predeceased by her parents, Vitale and Maria.

Filomena was born in Bagnoli del Trigno, a hillside town in the region of Molise, Province of Isernia, Italy. In 1949, at the age of 12, she made the courageous journey to Toronto with her recently widowed mother. Here she attended school, learned the trade of hairdressing, and met the love of her life, Secondo. They married in 1956 and began a life together grounded in true love, respect, calm, and honest hard work.

Though her story mirrors that of many immigrants of her generation, Filomena’s was truly blessed. Along the way, she found deep happiness in family, community, and the everyday joys that mattered most to her.

Above all, she was an exceptional mother—steadfast, nurturing, and protective—always putting her children first, right until the very end.

Filomena was dearly loved and will be fondly and forever remembered.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to a charity close to Filomena’s heart:
Community Living Central York (clcy.ca) or Steer Friends (steerfriends.org).