Betro

After the death of her mother, 22 year old Teresa (Sisa) Mercurio made the voyage to Canada in the summer of 1958 via the ship Vulcania and Pier 21 in Halifax. From there, she took the long train ride to Timmins, Ontario where her father had immigrated earlier.

Saverio Betro flew to Canada in the fall of 1958 to join the love of his life, Sisa. On November 29, 1958 they were married and remained in Timmins. Saverio worked in the gold and silver mines while Sisa found work as a cook and seamstress.

In 1962, in search of a better life, they moved to Toronto. Saverio was a master carpenter in Italy so he started a successful carpentry business that he continued until his retirement in 1995. Sisa worked sewing pearls and sequins on couture wedding gowns until the birth of her 3rd child in 1967.

In 1964, Saverio and Sisa built their dream house and lived there the rest of their lives, raising 3 daughters: Marianna, Raffaela and Rita. Mom and Dad always believed in education and they were extremely proud that all 3 of us graduated from University.

Saverio and Sisa worked hard and lived life to the fullest, holding on to their Italian traditions and passing them down to their daughters. As devoted Catholics, Sisa contributed at her church with the children’s programs and Saverio was an usher. Saverio passed away on June 8, 2020 and Sisa passed away on February 26, 2022. They are gone but all the sacrifices they made to make a life here in Canada will never be forgotten.