It is with profound sadness and heavy hearts that we announce the peaceful passing of our beloved wife, mother, nanna, sister, and friend. Gilda passed away peacefully on Wednesday, November 5, 2025, at the Grace General Hospital after a brief illness at the age of 85. 

She will be lovingly remembered by her husband of 66 years, Mario,  her four children, Salvatore (Franca) Cesario, Anna-Maria (Antonio) Elia, Maurizio (Dalida) Cesario and Susanna (Tony) Sacco.  Her pride and joy, her grandchildren, Maria-Francesca (Roy), Jill (Michael), Francesco (Alyssa), Adriana, Mario, and Marissa; and most recent loves, her great-grandchildren, Anthony, Ariana, Ava, Gia and Sienna.  She also leaves to mourn her brother Giuseppe (Dina) DeRose, brothers-in-law, John, Luigi and Pasquale (Rita) Cesario as well as sisters-in-law Maria-Giovanna and Ivanna Cesario and Lulu DeRose and numerous loving nieces and nephews.

Mom is finally reunited with her parents, Alfredo and Maria DeRose, her brother Stefano DeRose (Rosetta DeRose) and sister Iolanda DeRose, her in-laws, Salvatore and Genoveffa Cesario, sisters-in-law: from New York: Theresa and Phylis Cesario,  from Italy : Maria, Aurelia and Dina and brother-in-law Francesco Cesario and from Vancouver: Emilia (Pietro) Barbuscio and brothers-in-law Orlando Cesario, Guiseppe Cesario, as well as her granddaughter Elayna Cesario.

Gilda was born on July 12,1940, in La Motto di Rovito, Cosenza Italy.  She met dad at La festa di Santo Roco in 1955.  They dated for four years and were married on January 24, 1959 and spent 66 amazing years together, a milestone not many are blessed to reach.  Mom and Dad immigrated to Canada in 1962 with their son, Salvatore and began their life together in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Soon after, the family grew with three more children, Anna Maria, Maurizio, and Susanna, together they built a family and life in Canada. While adapting to new surroundings, mom took pride in caring for our family  She raised all her children, watched them grow and was there for each and every one of their milestones. She had a heart of gold and a kind soul. After living a couple years in Canada, she worked as a seamstress at Freti Sewing Factory for three years. She had a way of turning ordinary days into special occasions and making every holiday unforgettable.

As our family grew, her greatest joy became her grandchildren. Nothing made her happier than seeing them grow, laugh and love one another. Sharing her homemade taralli, biscotti, Italian cherry crostata pie, pizza and pasta with polpetta on Sundays, surrounded by their smiling faces at her table, was the center of her world. 

Over the years, Mom found immense joy in her annual trips to Mexico, especially to Puerto Vallarta. She cherished the simple pleasures of life—soaking up the sunshine, sharing good company with Mario and Susanna and Tony savoring delicious meals and watching sunsets over the ocean with a glass of wine and music in the background.  

She loved relaxing by the pool and spending time with friends sharing stories in good company. She also made many trips back to Italy, reconnecting with her roots. Mom adored laughing and dancing, clapping along to Italian music. She taught us the importance of family and love, reminding us that, no matter what, we always had each other. She will always be remembered by her family and the many friends touched by her kindness and clever wit. She was strong in both the way she carried herself and how she navigated life.

She was absolutely everything to us, the matriarch of our family and although we have a missing piece in our hearts, we find peace knowing that she is in heaven and we have our own guardian angel watching over us. 

We would like to extend our deepest gratitude and thanks to the doctors and nursing staff in the intensive care unit for their exceptional care of mom. 

“If tears could build a stairway, and memories a lane, I would walk right up to heaven and bring you home again.  No farewell words were spoken, no time to say good-bye, you were gone before we knew it, and only God knows why.  Our hearts still ache in sadness and secret tears still flow, what it meant to lose you, no one will ever know.”

Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, November 14, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. with condolences to begin at 1:00 p.m. at Holy Rosary Parish Church, 519 River Avenue with Rev. Fr. Michael Raj Savarimuthu as the Celebrant.

 The interment will be a private gathering.  

Honorary Pallbearers: Maria-Francesca, Marissa, Jill, and Adriana. 

Active Pallbearers are: Francesco Elia, Mario Cesario, Anthony Watt, Michael Correia, Pedro Jorge and Tony Foderaro.

If you wish to join virtually, you may do so by clicking 'Join Livestream' link in the Services tab below:

https://youtube.com/live/vsFT72diW-E?feature=share

In lieu of flowers,

in honour of mom’s memory, a donation can be made to the following foundations.

Cancer Care Manitoba -email (donate@cancercare.mb.ca)

Cancer Care Manitoba Foundation

1160-675 McDermot Ave

Winnipeg, MB

R3E 0V9

or

The Heart and Stroke Foundation : email - https://www.heartandstroke.ca 

"Riposa in pace, mia cara mamma, sei sempre nel mio cuore, fino a quando ci incontreremo di nuovo."

 My Dearest Mamma, though you're not here.

Your love remains, I hold it dear. 

The world feels different, skies less bright,

Since you left, I've lost my light.

I miss your gentle, soft embrace.

Your tender smile, your loving grace.

The world keeps moving, time moves on.

But without you, a part of me is gone.

I whisper your name to the silent night,

Hoping you hear me from your place in

Heaven's light.

Though you're gone, I feel you near 

In every memory I hold so dear.

A piece of my soul still lives with you.

My love for you, forever true.

You're not here, but you're in my heart.

A precious gift that will never depart.