R.I.P. Sweet Mom. Love You Forever!

February 1, 2010 by Masterclass Lady 22 Comments


Lillian Giallonardo, dearly departed Mom of Rosanne Simunovic

 On January 22nd, 2010, my dear mother, Lillian (Mascioli) Giallonardo, passed away after a difficult battle with Alzheimer’s Disease.  In the end, her passing was peaceful and dignified, erasing  the struggle she encountered with this disease over the past 10 years.

I was privileged to eulogize her memory at the lovely Catholic service held in her memory at Sacred Heart Church in Timmins Ontario, Canada.

Additionally, the music was absolutely beautiful and so inspiring. Special thanks to singers, Lauri-Ann Loreto-Neal (my Mom’s niece) and Aileen (Roy) Kleinhuis, superbly accompanied on keyboard by Sue Steel. These two ladies sounded angelic and added a very special and memorable dimension to the Catholic service.

Also, the family wishes to extend their heartfelt gratitude to Father Mitch Sliwa for his beautiful homily and to Extendicare Timmins for their excellent care and compassion.

Special thanks is also extended to Horizon Palliative Care for their spiritual and compassionate guidance, allowing my Mom to pass peacefully into the arms of her Saviour.

Thank you to all who emailed, called, visited or sent cards – your support and love at this difficult time was extremely welcome and made the transition to life without Mom a little easier to bear.

God Bless All Of You! Rosanne

Lillian Giallonardo
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About Masterclass Lady

Rosanne (Giallonardo) Simunovic began her musical career in Timmins, Ontario. She studied piano with Anne Pizzale and later, at an advanced level, with Soeur Anita Vaugeois (Sister Cecile of Les Soeurs De L’Assomption in Timmins). Her vocal and accompaniment skills were nurtured by her aunt, the late Dorothea Mascioli. When Rosanne graduated from O’Gorman High School, she moved on to the University of Toronto where she continued her piano and vocal studies while attaining a Bachelor of Arts Degree. She was hired as a piano accompanist for several musical companies, most notably, the National Ballet Of Canada. She presently holds an A.R.C.T. Teacher’s Diploma in Voice from the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto. Rosanne has studied choral conducting with numerous well known Canadian Conductors, including Wayne Riddell of Montreal, Quebec and the internationally renowned Dr. Elmer Iseler. She has been a founding member of numerous community-based arts organizations: the Timmins Arts Council, later known as Arts & Culture Timmins, the Timmins Symphony Orchestra, and, the Timmins Youth Singers…as well as the TYS Alumnus choir, the Timmins Concert Singers. In 1987, she was also selected to be the conductor of the Timmins Board Of Education Choir, comprised of talented students from Grades 5 to 8. In 1988, she was elected to the Board Of Directors of the Ontario Choral Federation (now known as Choirs Ontario), where she served as Chair of the Festivals Committee for six consecutive seasons. In 1996, in honour of the Ontario Choral Federation’s 25th Anniversary, Rosanne was selected as one of 25 recipients of the OCF’s Distinguished Service Award for outstanding contribution to the choral art. The ceremony was presided by Lieutenant Governor, Hal Jackman. In November 1997, Rosanne Simunovic was selected by the Rotary Club Of Timmins to receive the prestigious Paul Harris Award for her years of dedication to the artistic development of young musical talent in Timmins. In August of 2002, Rosanne Simunovic was selected by the Board Of Directors of Choirs Ontario to serve as Conductor of both the Provincial Junior and Teen Choir Camps, now renamed in honour of the Camp Benefactors, Don and Lillian Wright. In November 2002, Rosanne was the one of the recipients of the Commemorative Medal for the Golden Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II, honouring her work in the development of the arts in Timmins. Under Rosanne Simunovic’s direction, the Timmins Youth Singers and the Timmins Concert Singers have been featured in numerous choral festivals and performing opportunities outside of Timmins. In 1985, they were selected to partici
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22 Responses to “R.I.P. Sweet Mom. Love You Forever!”

  1. Unknown's avatar
    JulesEnoch February 1, 2010 at 5:49 pm

    Sorry to hear this! My prayers are with you and your family!

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    Kariann1 February 1, 2010 at 9:24 pm

    Roseanne, I am so sorry for your loss! I know you were very close to your Mom. As I mentioned to you, my Aunt and brother-in-law died from Alzheimer’s Disease, and it is like you have lost them while they are still here. May God comfort you and your family during this difficult time.

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    Gail FOD February 1, 2010 at 10:21 pm

    Roseanne, Thinking of you. It sounds like a beautiful memorial. Take care.

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    gemzone February 1, 2010 at 11:11 pm

    I was sorry to hear about your loss. Know that a lot of prayers were said on your behalf. We, all who come here love and care about you and yours. May God be with all of you at this time. Maybe listening to a little David will bring some peace to you. This isn’t new but always healing..

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  5. Unknown's avatar
    KathyH February 2, 2010 at 6:48 am

    I am very sorry to hear about your mother’s passing. I lost my mom to Alzheimer’s several years ago. I’ll always miss her. Sending thoughts and prayers of healing to you and yours.

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    masterclasslady February 2, 2010 at 10:14 am

    Thank you all for sharing in my loss. Your thoughts and prayers are extremely comforting.

    Gemzone – I absolutely adore “Be Still My Soul” and almost included it at my Mom’s memorial service. However, there wasn’t enough time and I had selected other songs that I know meant a great deal to my Mom and her close circle of family and friends. However, I play and sing this song often at Church each Sunday and at funerals – the last time being at the funeral of another Alzheimer’s patient in April 2009.

    God Bless all of you for your kindness and support. xoxo

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    Rereader February 2, 2010 at 3:11 pm

    What a lovely post, MCL. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

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    Beth February 2, 2010 at 4:46 pm

    MCL, I’m sorry for your loss, and my prayers are with you and your family. I’d like to share this song from Carrie Underwood, called Temporary Home, which speaks of the hope of life after death.
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iNV1Hz90vHs

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    awestruck February 2, 2010 at 5:02 pm

    My deepest sympathies MCL. May your Mother now find peace and you and your family comfort from that.

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    masterclasslady February 2, 2010 at 8:05 pm

    ReReader – thank you so much for your thoughts and prayers AND for your continued support. I came on here to, perhaps, add an American Idol blog topic, but my heart is not there yet. Hopefully, the readers will be patient while I recover from my Mom’s passing.

    Beth – beautiful song. I needed this today – very much so. It is such an inspiring video – I have new-found respect for Carrie Underwood. She is such a genuine artist, isn’t she?

    Awestruck – thanks to you as well for your expression of sympathy on the loss of my Mom.

    God Bless you all! xoxoxo

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  11. Unknown's avatar
    louise February 3, 2010 at 11:23 am

    Dear MCL,
    My deepest sympathy to you on the loss of your beloved mother. It took me quite a long time after my mother died to recover from that loss, so I will most definitely understand if you are not ready to talk about AI. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

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    masterclasslady February 4, 2010 at 10:59 am

    Louise – thank you so much for your support and sharing your thoughts about losing a Mom. This has been tough for me, but I take comfort in knowing that she is finally at peace and reunited with my dear father.

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    Shannon February 4, 2010 at 12:47 pm

    Rosanne–

    My most sincere condolences on the loss of your mother. I, too, lost my mother to Alzheimers in 2003, so I know firsthand the bittersweet feelings of the passing of a loved one with this insidious disease. I am glad her service brought you so much comfort.

    Shannon Sabel

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    janey February 5, 2010 at 12:47 am

    Rosanne, I’m so sorry to hear of your loss, please accept my sincere condolences. You have been in my thoughts and prayers.

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    ArchieFanDoc/Cathy February 5, 2010 at 1:27 am

    Rosanne -My deepest sympathies to you and your family on the loss of your mother – I know that you miss her everyday, but that spirit lives on in you and your family and everyone she has touched in her life.

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    marc February 5, 2010 at 2:25 am

    I am very sorry to learn of the loss of your mother MCL. My condolences to you and your family.

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    auntieaudie February 5, 2010 at 2:25 am

    Hello Roseanne,

    I am so very sorry for your loss, my sincere condolences to you and your family.

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  18. Unknown's avatar
    daizdfan February 5, 2010 at 10:25 am

    Dear Roseanne,
    I hope that you feel peace and comfort. It’s never easy to say goodbye for a time to those we love so deeply. Please accept my sympathies to you and your family.

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  19. Unknown's avatar
    vonnie February 5, 2010 at 10:45 am

    So sorry to hear of the loss of your Mom, I will keep you and your family in my thoughts and prayers!

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    mariah February 8, 2010 at 5:31 pm

    I’m so very sorry for the loss of your mother. I offer my deepest sympathy. You and your family shall carry her light. I keep you in my thoughts.

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  21. Unknown's avatar
    Mindy February 25, 2010 at 8:42 pm

    MCL,

    Please forgive me for being so late in expressing my condolences. I have not been on the site for a while, so I just read your beautiful tribute to your mother.

    I know that this has been an extremely difficult time for you. There is nothing harder than watching a parent struggly against the horror of this insidious disease. Your love and devotion is just another testament to your wonderful heart and courageous spirit.

    I extend my deepest sympathy to you at the passing of your mother. I hope that you will find solace in memories of happier times with her. I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers.

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  22. Unknown's avatar
    masterclasslady February 25, 2010 at 9:00 pm

    Mindy,

    Thank you so much for your beautiful sentiments. Your words really touched me.

    It is so comforting to see this kind of support and compassion when a loved one moves on to a new and better life. I take great solace in knowing that my Mom can now fully understand and embrace her family members with serene clarity and love.

    Alzheimer’s is a horrendous illness and I pray that a cure comes quickly.

    Once again, thank you so much, Mindy. God Bless!

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