Alexander Vella

Mr. Alexander Vella (Alex, Xandru, Sandro, San, Papa), age 49 years of Nipigon, Ontario, was called to join God the Father on the evening of August 13, 2023.
 
Born in Malta on May 25, 1974, he lived in Gharghur and made Mellieha his family home until immigrating to Canada in 2018.
 
He attended Malta’s Archbishop’s Minor Seminary, obtained his Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Malta and his Master’s Degree from Brunel University (UK) in Building Service Design. He worked as a Mechanical Engineer for the Government of Malta and was part of the team that worked on many of Malta’s centuries old and important landmarks, including the Triton’s Fountain at the entrance to Valletta, affectionally known as “Papa’s Fountain”. After moving to Canada, he joined RVI Group Inc., an experience he likened to working alongside his uncle and cousins as part of Transient Light & Sound, a family company. We were immensely proud of him when he received his Professional Engineer designation this past June. He treasured those whom he met through his work.
 
He will live in the hearts of his wife of 10 years, Janice, their children Elizabeth and Nathaniel, his parents Carmelo and Maria (nee Pullicino) of Gharghur, and his sister Maria Theresa (George) Bonello of Mosta, Janice’s parents Irwin and Linda Nicol, Grandmother-in-law Ethel Martin, brothers-in-law Jason (Tania and children Sydney and Kieren) of Nipigon, Ontario and Jerry (Stacie) Nicol of Haimhausen, Germany. Nieces and nephews Christian (Melissa) and Daniela (Andrew) Bonello and Ryan and Lilian Nicol will always treasure their uncle’s love and guidance. His aunts, uncles, and cousins in Malta, BC, and Ontario, along with Janice’s relatives in Nipigon and Thunder Bay are saddened by this sudden loss. He will be missed immensely by his friends in Malta, and by his spiritual guide and friend, Fr. Chris Farrugia.
 
Predeceased by his grandparents Karmnu and Rosarja Pullicino, Censu and Katarin Vella.
 
His parents bestowed in him an immeasurable work ethic, the importance of family, to be generous and to help others. He spent Sunday’s at his Nanna’s, watched his father work in his carpentry shop, made a great Merlot, and saw his mother care and cook for everyone. He taught the Catholic faith to children and youths and volunteered with the Society of Christian Doctrine in missions to Albania and Kenya. He was amazed by the beauty of the sea, the birds in the sky, the falling snow and northern lights, and treasured his visits home to Malta and summers at camp on St. Joe’s Island in Lake Superior. He took his first downhill ski lesson this past winter with his kids, drove 27,000 km from Vancouver to Alaska and onto Canada’s east coast with Janice, loved camping, hiking and experiencing the wilds of his adopted country. His family will continue with his dream to experience the world together.
 
Our Sandro, Sunshine and Papa will continue to guide us, turning our sadness into hope, our grief into light, knowing that he will always live “beside me”.
 
Special thanks to those who came to his aid, the compassionate staff and doctors at NDMH, and for the support and prayers our families have received.
 
Funeral mass will take place on September 9, 2023 at 11 a.m. at the Church of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Nipigon, Ontario. If desired, in lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the church roof repair fund or to the Thunderbird Raptor Rescue: canadahelps.org/en/charities/thunderbird-wildlife-rescue
 
Condolences may be made through www.nwfainc.com