Gabriele Menei

Mr. Gabriele Menei, age 88 years, passed away peacefully on Saturday, December 31, 2022, in Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre, with family by his side.

Gabriele was born on November 26, 1934 in Castelli, Teramo, Italy, where he took up agriculture on the family farmland. In 1952 at the age of 18 to better provide for his family, he went to work on a farm in Switzerland. He worked there for 4 years and in 1956 he immigrated to Port Arthur where he commenced working with Barnett McQueen Construction and was involved in many key projects in Northwestern Ontario, including the construction of the Pigeon River Bridge, construction of the Pic River Bridge and the construction and development of the Geco Mine in Manitouwadge.

In the late 1960s he decided to start his own construction company Gabriele Menei Contracting. This company was involved in numerous residential, commercial, industrial and municipal construction projects in Northwestern Ontario from its inception up to the present time.

Gabriele was a great family man and a well-respected individual in the community. He always gave his time unselfishly to others, especially his family. His home, family and grandchildren gave him much enjoyment over the years. Gabriele was always happiest when surrounded by his family and friends and when working with his farm animals and in his garden. He enjoyed fishing and playing the squeeze box with his family around him.

Gabriele was especially close to his brother Tony Menei and his sister Agnese Di Gregorio and he enjoyed many visits with them. Gabriele will be sadly missed by his children: Dario Menei (Kathy), Rivo Menei (Karen), Livia Stachiw (Terry), Carina Bedour (Richard), Dino Menei (Cindy), Clara Csori (Frank), Enzo Menei (Sue), Rosanna Menei (Walter); grandchildren: Tina Gamache (Donald), Amanda Barker (Patrick), Lisa Malcolm (Sean), Dayna Menei, Stacey Menei (Ian), Breanne Menei, Stephanie Borton, Justine Lesage, Samantha Lowery (Kyle), Carla Mulholland, Laura Ewing (Mike), Tina Bobinski (Brad),
Ashley Hynes (granddaughter in law), Nick Menei, Tyler Menei (Fatima), Andy Menei (Sarah), Joey Gamache, Anthony DeGrazia (Caitlin), Jordan Bedour, Brandon Bedour, DJ Moore, Pasquale Menei (Sydney), Justin Menei (Ryan), Mark Menei (Tegin), David Borton and James Borton; great grandchildren Brayden Menei, TJ Menei, Blair Menei, Odenn Menei, Chloie Menei, Jaxon Lesage, Joshua Kolody, Sophie Malcolm, Ava Malcolm, Miller Menei, Nehemiah Ross, Nathan Medovits, Jazmin Fioriti, Hailey Fioriti, Emma Lowery, Ericka Lowery, Liam Gamache, Logan Gamache, Lauryn Gamache, Jackson Mulholland, Benjamin Mulholland, Alyssa Ewing, Braiden Ewing and Saedi Bobinski. Gabriele is survived by his sister Agnese Di Gregorio, brother Tony Menei and sister Domenica Di Pasquantonio (Italy). Predeceased by the mother of his children Maria Menei, grandson Enzo Menei junior, great granddaughter Mila Gamache, father Eusanio Menei (Italy), mother Maria Stella Menei, sister Assunta Di Giuseppe (Italy), sister Cesina D'Archangelo (Italy) and brother Pasquale Menei (Italy).

The family would like to thank Dr. Hagerty, Dr. Delpaggio, Dr. Prowes, their team and all the staff in ICU for their exceptional care.

Services will be held on Saturday January 7th, 2023 leaving the Harbourview Funeral Centre, 499 North Cumberland St., at 10:00 a.m to St. Anthony’s R.C. Church, 123 Hilldale Rd. where the Funeral Mass will be celebrated by Father Luigi Filippini at 10:30 a.m. A private family entombment will follow in Sunset Memorial Gardens. Visitation for family and friends will be held in the Chapel of Harbourview Funeral Centre on Friday, January 6, 2023 from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. with prayers at 7:00 p.m. A Celebration of Life for Gabriele Menei will also be held on Sunday January 15th, 2023 at the Slovak Legion, 801 Atlantic Ave. from 11:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

If friends so desire, donations to St. Anthony’s Church or The Dew Drop Inn would be appreciated.