Obituary of Margaret Castellani

Margaret was born in North Bay Ontario on May 29, 1935. She was the youngest of four children. She is predeceased by her two brothers, Tom and Raymond and sister, Cordelia. Their parents' were Mary (nee Chapeski) from Wilno Ontario and Vincent Keizer from Renfrew Ontario. Margaret died peacefully on September 8, 2016 at the age of 81. Margaret attended St Mary's elementary school and St Joseph's High School in North Bay. After attending teacher's college in Toronto she taught at St Pius X Elementary School in Sault Ste. Marie Ontario. It was there that she met her lifelong friend Kay Gravelle. Kay always remembered to call Margaret on her birthday and always stopped in to visit when she was in town. Not long after moving to the Sault, Margaret married her sweetheart Nino O. Castellani with whom she shared 61 years of marriage. Margaret is survived by her husband Nino, all six of their children; Laurie Ellen Gwynne and her husband David, Anne Marie Matthies and her companion Scott, Roma Lee Reid and her husband Bruce, Giovanni Castellani, Mirco Castellani and Nino Castellani Jr and his wife Lori. Margaret took great pleasure in her 12 grandchildren; Francis, Elizabeth and Jennifer Gwynne, Gregory Matthies, Andrea (Darrel) Hebner, Mandy (Jesse) Therien and Kenneth Reid, Vincent and Alexandra Castellani, and Kali, NinoBud and James Castellani. Her biggest joy was holding her 5 great-grandchildren; Vada and Berkley Hebner, Jax and Henrik Therien and Francis Matthies. Many nieces and nephews and their children from the families of Frederick Dellerbo, Gail, Sandra, Spencer, Mary Louise and Andrea Buttazzoni and Alan and Wayne Keizer also survive Margaret. Margaret was a great cook and looked forward to having everyone around her table eating all her homemade traditional Italian and Polish foods. She was also an accomplished seamstress and sewed many of her children's clothes as well as her own. Every grandchild received something knitted by Grandma too. During her high school days, she played the church organ at the Pro Cathedral in North Bay. Later in her career she took up playing the organ for masses at St Jerome, St Gerard Majella and Our Lady of Good Counsel churches. She also volunteered to play the piano at local elementary school concerts. Margaret led a very active and busy life until diagnosed with vascular dementia. Nino kept his promise to love her and care for her until the end of her days. Nino and all of his children would like to thank the staff at the Extendicare Maple View Home who gave their time and loving care to her as well. A private family service will be held on September 12th. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Alzheimer's Research or the charity of your choice in Margaret's name.