Erminia ELIA

Erminia Elia, also lovingly known as Nonna to many, passed away peacefully on September 14th, 2021. Erminia was born on March 10th or March 11th (no one really knows for sure) in 1932, in the small mountain village of Bianchi, Calabria, Italy. In 1952 Erminia and Alfonso Elia eloped. In 1958 they immigrated to the new world and made a life for themselves in Fernie. Alfonso and Erminia have been married for 69 years, and Alfonso will miss her terribly.

Erminia worked her first job in Canada in the kitchen at the King Edward Hotel and quickly became known as fast learner and speedy worker. Erminia had three beloved sons with her husband Alfonso: Emilio, Carmine and Gino. She welcomed into her family their three beloved spouses: Gloria, Sharon, and Lois. She became a Nonna (grandmother) with the birth of Amanda followed by Darren, Maddy, Harrison, Christian and Easton, and later three very special great grandchildren: Maya, Emma, and Nicole.

Erminia loved her family and looked forward to spending time with her brother's and sister's families as she loved her nieces and nephews as her own. Erminia will be missed by her sister Mena Scarpino and sister-in- law Maria Elia, along with their families, who shared those early years in Fernie together.

Erminia was a sensational home cook and loved nothing more than to gather around the dinner table with her loved ones, eating and drinking for hours on end. Her love of preparing and sharing food was a gift to everyone that knew her. Erminia taught Italian cooking at the community night school, and as part of the CWL she was a vital part of the famous Italian Night dinner fundraisers at Holy Family Parish.

Erminia left us all with the lesson that a delicious meal is more than just ingredients. It is the love that prepares it, and the time spent together, that is the most important. 

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