Margaret Caterina Mizzaro (née Fantin), resident of Grande Prairie, AB, passed away surrounded by family at the Grande Prairie Care Centre on August 31, 2025, at the age of 87.

Margherita was born on March 3, 1938, in Meduno, Italy, as the first child of Pietro and Caterina Fantin. She was later joined by two brothers, Jack and Vincent. Although Margaret’s early childhood was overshadowed by the Second World War—including literally, by formations of Allied bombers flying to Germany—Margaret enjoyed her childhood in Meduno, where she grew up speaking Friulano and later learned Italian at school.

Margaret met the man who would eventually become her husband, Ettore Mizzaro, while both still lived in Meduno. They kept in contact via letter, as Hector moved to Canada to work as a carpenter in Alberta, and Margaret moved with her parents and brothers to New York City.

Manhattan, with its bustling chaos bounded by its numbered grid of streets, was a place where Margaret thrived. She was proud of her work as a seamstress amidst the glamour and style of Fifth Avenue, and it was only the proposal of marriage from Hector that dislodged Margaret from her life in New York. Hector and Margaret were married in Toronto in 1959 and then moved to Grande Prairie, where Hector had already built a house for them.

Grande Prairie, with its rough wooden sidewalks that resulted in Margaret limping back home after breaking a heel walking to church, was a far cry from Manhattan. The move initially proved to be a difficult and lonely one for Margaret, especially with the long hours Hector often worked. Thankfully this did not last long, as with the birth of sons Peter and Tony, Margaret began to make Grande Prairie a home. Margaret tragically lost her husband after 29 years of marriage when Hector passed away in 1988 after suffering a second stroke. In a few years, sorrow gave way to joy as grandchildren began to arrive, and Margaret eagerly embraced her new role as “Nonna.” Margaret loved nothing more than taking care of her family—whether by cooking and baking; employing her textile-working skills to make, mend, or alter clothes, blankets, and torn stuffed animals; or by merely watching over her grandchildren during days off from school.

Margaret’s unwavering kindness, endless generosity, and quietly mischievous humour will be greatly missed by her sons, Peter and Tony (Roxanne); her grandchildren, Vincent, Ally, Matthew, and Madison; her brothers, Jack and Vincent (Joanne); as well as her extended family and friends.

Margaret was predeceased by her husband, Hector Mizzaro; her parents, Pietro and Caterina Fantin; her granddaughter, Melissa; her sisters-in-law, Anna Biot, Ferrina Fantin, and Margaret Corrado; and her nephew, Michael Fantin.

A private family service will be held at a later date.

Memorial donations may be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada at www.heartandstroke.ca.