It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our beautiful and most loving mom, Rita Cardow (nee Finoro) on April 11th, 2022, at 100 years old.
Beloved wife of the late Albert J. Cardow for 59 1/2 years. Loving mother to: the late Albert Jr., Nancy (and her late husband, Bob Tonelli), Paul (and his wife, Barb), Kerry, Charlene (and beau Greg Digulla) and Shirley (and her husband, John Wildfong). Cherished grandmother to David, Shannon, Michelle, Cheri-Lee, Layne, Danielle, Samantha, Jacqueline, Mercedes, Skylar, Sterling and Kylie. Great-grandmother to Ayden, the late Hope, Oliver, Ellery, Marlowe, Josh, Jayde, Storey and Navy. Dear sister of: the late Maurice, the late Grace and the late Johnny. And dear sister-in-law to Mary.
Will be missed by all her friends of the family, nieces, nephews, relatives and close neighbours.
Rita’s first love was her husband and children. She enjoyed being with them for any and all occasions. Rita lived through her husband’s absence for almost six years while he served in the Second World War. During this time, she worked with her brother, Johnny at the Biltmore Hat Co. and also spent much time with her mom and dad, Anna and Charles Finoro along with her cousins right next door to them (the Dicarlo’s). When dad returned, they started a family (with six children) and after that family was her main focal point.
Several years later she went back to work at the Novitiate as a cook. For a few years, she babysat neighbours children during lunch and after school so she was always busy. She always kept in shape and loved to walk and work out. She had a chance to travel and also enjoyed the cruise she went on with some family members. After Albert had passed away, she decided to volunteer at St. Joseph’s Home (where Albert lived the last 6 ½ years of his life) as she wanted to continue to offer help where she could.
Rita was a very generous woman to those she loved and went out of her way to put her family’s needs a head of her own. She welcomed more and more grandchildren and then great grandchildren into her life so family gatherings grew. Some of her memorable moments include: meeting Wendall Clark, posing on her grandson’s Harley Davidson bike (when she was in her 80’s) and being greeted by the mayor of Guelph both for her 95th birthday and again recently at her 100th birthday. Some of her likes were: watching Three’s Company (or as she would call it, Three’s a Company, Dr. Pol and Everybody Loves Raymond, food, chocolate, red wine, shopping for clothes, dancing, music and going to the hair salon as looking her very best was something she insisted on. We cannot forget mom looked forward to the nice weather every year as she loved sitting outside on her back deck every day with family and friends.
She was very youthful and had a sense of humour and she liked to sing when she was happy. She is now with her family members who have gone before us in Heaven and can give them the same comfort and joy that she gave us. We will miss her so dearly but we also know that she will continue to live on in us. The Cardow family would like to extend much thanks and gratitude to her recent PSW care workers: Jennifer Rekker and Diane Grant from Care Partners EShift along with the nursing staff at the General Hospital and St. Joseph’s Continuing Care for all their help with mom while her visit there last fall.
Resting at Gilbert MacIntyre & Son Funeral Home, Dublin Chapel, 252 Dublin St. N, Guelph. The family will be receiving guests on THURSDAY, APRIL 21, 2022 from 2:00-4:00 pm and 7:00-9:00 pm. A Funeral Mass will be held on FRIDAY APRIL 22, 2022 at 11:00 am at St. Joseph’s Church, 409 Paisley Road, Guelph, with burial to follow at Marymount Cemetery. The Funeral Mass will be live streamed through St. Joseph's Church Youtube channel.
Donations to the Heart & Stroke Foundation or The Canadian National Institute for the Blind would be greatly appreciated by the family. Donations and condolences can be left at the funeral home or online at www.gilbertmacintyreandson.com