Photo Story: Remembering Matilda and Frank Veltri

My great-grandmother Matilda ‘Tillie’ Veltri was born June 10th, 1925 to her parents Peter

and Annie Suszyryba, in Poland. She emigrated to Canada by boat to the East Coast at the age of four before settling in Fort William, Thunder Bay and legally changing her name from Tekla to Matilda.

By the time she was eighteen years old she was working with her father at Fort William’s Canadian Car and Foundry to create airplanes for World War Two and was married to my great-grandfather Frank Veltri.

Frank Veltri was born on November 7th, 1924 to Dominic and Jessie Veltri in Thunder Bay, Ontario. He went on to enlist during World War Two as an ambulance driver for a small regiment and aided men overseas until his right-hand was permanently damaged by shrapnel while serving in Italy.

After being released from the Vancouver Veterans Hospital, he went on to try various jobs including being a bus driver and mechanic for Iron Range Bus Lines as well as opening a restaurant for a short time called the Blue Parrot. My great-grandmother went on to work at Zellers before opening a ceramics business later on.

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In their retirement, the duo spent their time mainly travelling, spending time with their family, or in my great-grandmother’s case working on many creative crafting endeavours. My great-grandfather passed away December 31st, 2003 after 19 months battling complications of diabetes My great-grandmother died on January 9th, 2019 after suffering complications from her diverticulosis and age.

They were both very proud of the massive family they worked to protect in both Thunder Bay and out of country during World War Two. And we, their living relatives, treasure the valorous good-hearted values they instilled in us from their experiences during the war and the historical cautionary tales that still empower us with knowledge today. Matilda and Frank Veltri died as heroes in the comfort of their home on Ray Boulevard.

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