Jean, as she was known by her friends, passed away peacefully and much loved on April 3rd, 2018 in her 87th year, after her arrival as Guelph’s New Year’s baby in 1932. She and her late husband Adelino Zorzi were blessed with three children: her daughter, Jeanette Kupferschmidt (William) of Deep River, Ontario; and two sons, Leon of Waterloo and Gary of Guelph (predeceased). Jean is also survived by her three cherished grandsons: Anthony (Alexis Martis) of Vancouver; David (Kari Myers) of Bethesda, Maryland; and Philip (Laura Cernat) of Leuven, Belgium.
Jean grew up in Guelph and worked alongside her father, Santo Beghetto, as a market gardener growing his produce on York Road. But, whenever she could manage to complete her tasks with time to spare, she loved to play baseball as a teenager. After meeting and marrying Adelino in 1951, she revelled her roles as wife and mother, loving to cook Italian cuisine and to sew for all members of her family. And as her children grew older and more self-reliant, she turned her attention to gardening - being outdoors in her gardens tending to her plants became her passion. Many an hour (and a day) was spent nurturing her plants, and her gardens reflected the care she took in tending to them.
Over the past 15 years, Jean lived in the Ottawa Valley, first in Pembroke at Heritage Manor Retirement Residence, and later in Deep River at the Four Seasons Lodge Home, associated with the Deep River & District Hospital. Jean’s family wishes to thank the wonderful staff of the Four Seasons Lodge Home for the excellent care, support and love they showed Jean these past many years.
Friends will be received at Gilbert MacIntyre & Son Funeral Home, 1099 Gordon St, Guelph, on Friday, April 6, 2018 from 2-4pm and 7-9 pm, with vigil prayers taking place at 3:30pm. A Funeral Mass will take place at the Basilica of Our Lady, 28 Norfolk St, Guelph, on Saturday, April 7, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. with internment to follow at Marymount Cemetery.
As expressions of sympathy, donations to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, or the Deep River and District Hospital Foundation would be appreciated by the family. Donation cards are available at the funeral home (519-821-5077).