Mississauga's Maria Grimaldi celebrated her 104th birthday on Sunday surrounded by friends and family. Here, Grimaldi is pictured with her children Matthew Grimaldi, Lucille Alati, Peter Grimaldi, Jean Bartolini, Mary Lepore and her great grandson David Lachance.. Staff photo by Daniel Ho
Her eldest Peter Grimaldi, 74, came from Eden Mills, a town near Guelph, for the party.
"She was a disciplinarian with a heart of gold," he recalled. "We would always have our friends over and she'd welcome them all."
Grimaldi moved to Mississauga two years ago and remains busy as a bee.
"I take her out to play bingo, for light exercises and small day trips," said Bartolini. "We've gone apple picking and to the casino. She wants to stay active."
And at 104, Grimaldi is still the matriarch of her family.
"Just the other day she was telling me how to properly wash and peel the potatoes I was preparing for dinner," said Bartolini.
Although the house was filled with Grimaldi's five children, 19 grandchildren and over 25 great grandchildren, Bartolini said some family members were still missing from the festivities.
"When we celebrate her 105th birthday, we're renting a hall," she said.
John Bkila
jbkila@mississauga.net
© Copyright The Mississauga News
March 9, 2009
CANADA: Birthday girl says big family the secret to longevity
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MISSISSAUGA, Ontario / The Mississauga News / People / March 9, 2009
By John Bkila
Three meals a day, plenty of prayer and a big family. That's the secret Maria Grimaldi gave away yesterday as she celebrated her 104th birthday.
"She says it clears out the system, having a lot of kids," said Louise Jean Bartolini, who's Grimaldi's second eldest child.
Over three generations gathered at the family's Lorne Park residence to celebrate Grimaldi's milestone birthday, which came with plenty of cake and Italian desserts.
"She's very much loved by her family and you can see that today," said Bartolini, 77. "She's happiest when she has company."
The day was made even more special when seven-year-old Christina van Putten, a neighbour from next door, came to play Happy Birthday on her violin for the birthday girl.
Grimaldi, born in the town of San Marco in Italy, came to Canada in 1928 at the age of 23.
Settling in Etobicoke, her husband, Angelo Gabriele, established a post office in their own living room.
"That's how things used to work back then," said Bartolini. "People worked out of their homes."
After World War II, Angelo opened a travel business and, as a notary public, helped other immigrants make their way to Canada.
"Like all immigrants my mom made sacrifices," said Bartolini. "She would help my dad at the post office and later the travel agency whenever she could."
Grimaldi's husband, who was one of the first Italian postmasters in Ontario, predeceased her 25 years ago.
As a stay-at-home mom, Grimaldi made sure all her children were well-fed and well educated, said Bartolini.
Mississauga's Maria Grimaldi celebrated her 104th birthday on Sunday surrounded by friends and family. Here, Grimaldi is pictured with her children Matthew Grimaldi, Lucille Alati, Peter Grimaldi, Jean Bartolini, Mary Lepore and her great grandson David Lachance.. Staff photo by Daniel Ho
Her eldest Peter Grimaldi, 74, came from Eden Mills, a town near Guelph, for the party.
"She was a disciplinarian with a heart of gold," he recalled. "We would always have our friends over and she'd welcome them all."
Grimaldi moved to Mississauga two years ago and remains busy as a bee.
"I take her out to play bingo, for light exercises and small day trips," said Bartolini. "We've gone apple picking and to the casino. She wants to stay active."
And at 104, Grimaldi is still the matriarch of her family.
"Just the other day she was telling me how to properly wash and peel the potatoes I was preparing for dinner," said Bartolini.
Although the house was filled with Grimaldi's five children, 19 grandchildren and over 25 great grandchildren, Bartolini said some family members were still missing from the festivities.
"When we celebrate her 105th birthday, we're renting a hall," she said.
John Bkila
jbkila@mississauga.net
© Copyright The Mississauga News
Mississauga's Maria Grimaldi celebrated her 104th birthday on Sunday surrounded by friends and family. Here, Grimaldi is pictured with her children Matthew Grimaldi, Lucille Alati, Peter Grimaldi, Jean Bartolini, Mary Lepore and her great grandson David Lachance.. Staff photo by Daniel Ho
Her eldest Peter Grimaldi, 74, came from Eden Mills, a town near Guelph, for the party.
"She was a disciplinarian with a heart of gold," he recalled. "We would always have our friends over and she'd welcome them all."
Grimaldi moved to Mississauga two years ago and remains busy as a bee.
"I take her out to play bingo, for light exercises and small day trips," said Bartolini. "We've gone apple picking and to the casino. She wants to stay active."
And at 104, Grimaldi is still the matriarch of her family.
"Just the other day she was telling me how to properly wash and peel the potatoes I was preparing for dinner," said Bartolini.
Although the house was filled with Grimaldi's five children, 19 grandchildren and over 25 great grandchildren, Bartolini said some family members were still missing from the festivities.
"When we celebrate her 105th birthday, we're renting a hall," she said.
John Bkila
jbkila@mississauga.net
© Copyright The Mississauga News
