Mr. Peter Lawrence Grassi, age 88 years of Thunder Bay, passed away peacefully in Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre on Saturday, August 28, 2010.
Peter was born on March 2, 1922 in Falmenta, Italy to Angela and John Grassi. He came to Canada in December of 1938, at the age of 16, to work with his father on the C.N. Railroad. Peter later served a five year Motor Mechanic Apprenticeship at Dominion Motors in Thunder Bay. It was during this time, that he met and married the love of his life, Jean Cerutti, on April 10, 1948. Together they shared 58 years of marriage. He continued to work with Dominion Motors as a mechanic until 1949 when he left to join Port Arthur Motors as Shop Foreman and Service Manager. Peter held this position until he was forced to retire due to his health in 1977. Peter's main interests were his family, home and garden and he was a long time member of St. Anthony's Roman Catholic Church.
Peter is survived by his daughter Joan Grassi, niece Virginia Villa, nephew Vittore Zanni and his wife Fiorangela; grand-nieces Sabrina Vendramini and her husband Moreno, Karin Villa, Maddalena Baraggia, Martina Vendramini and grand-nephews Federico Zanni, Carlo Villa, Lorenzo Baraggia and his wife Lucia and Simone Vendramini all of Italy. Numerous cousins and friends also survive.
He was predeceased by his wife Jean on June 19, 2006, mother Angela Bianconi on December 13, 1932, father Giovanni “John” Grassi on May 2, 1969, sister Giovanna Zanni on January 26, 1993, niece Angela Baraggia on October 4, 2005 and nephew-in-law Nino Baraggia on May 6, 2010.
Funeral Services for the late Mr. Peter Grassi will be held on Thursday, September 2, 2010 when family and friends gather at St. Anthony's Roman Catholic Church for the Funeral Mass at 9:30 AM. Interment will follow in the family plot in St. Andrew's Cemetery. Visitation for family and friends will be held after 6:00 PM on Wednesday evening in the EVEREST FUNERAL CHAPEL, 299 Waverley Street at Algoma with Vigil Prayers being offered at 7:00 PM.
If friends so desire, donations made in memory of Peter to the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation – Northern Cardiac Fund or Northern Cancer Research Foundation would be greatly appreciated by the family.
