Obituary of George Bortolussi
It is with loving remembrance that the family of George Bortolussi share the story of a life well lived.
Born on December 12, 1935, in Meduna di Livenza, Treviso, Italy, George was the son of the late Giuseppe Bortolussi (1897–1980) and Maria Linguanotto (1907–1984).
At the age of 21, George left Italy in search of opportunity, crossing the Atlantic aboard the Conte Biancamano and arriving at Pier 21 in Halifax on October 13, 1956. From there, he travelled west to Oshawa, Ontario, where his brother Italo had already settled. Determined to build a life in his new country, George spent six months attending evening English classes after work, dedicating two hours each night at the local high school to learning the language.
A skilled tradesman, George earned his Trades Certificate as a General Carpenter in 1972 and spent much of his career working as a maintenance carpenter at the Whitby Psychiatric Hospital. He was proud of his work ethic and the life he built through hard work and perseverance.
Then one day George met Rita Mahoney at the Italian Club in Oshawa and fell in love. They were married on July 6, 1963, in Sussex, New Brunswick, Rita’s hometown. Together they returned to Oshawa and raised their three children before moving to a small hobby farm in Port Hope, Ontario. For more than two decades, George balanced farm life with a daily commute to Oshawa, embracing both the challenges and rewards of family life.
After his children had grown and established lives of their own, George continued his adventurous spirit, spending time living in Newfoundland and Manitoba before, in August 2017, packing everything he owned into his 2003 Chevy Impala and driving for four days to settle in Sussex, New Brunswick.
In his final year, George found comfort, safety, and companionship at Green Meadows Berwick Special Care Home. The care and kindness shown to him there brought peace not only to George but also to his entire family, who remain deeply grateful.
George had a deep appreciation for life’s simple pleasures. He loved sports—especially hockey—kept up with current events, and never passed up an opportunity to dance. He believed in staying active and could often be found walking, biking, swimming, or rollerblading, a hobby he enthusiastically took up in his seventies. He also enjoyed painting, motorcycles, and old cars.
George was predeceased by his brothers, Italo (wife Maria) and Oreste (wife Giovanna).
He leaves behind his loving children: Paula; Michael (Angela Ziccardi); and Philip (Olivia Kvittchastaia); along with his cherished grandchildren, Isaac (Alexandra Bertolo), Ava, Maxwell, and Lily.
George is also survived by his siblings: Giuseppina (husband Luigi Flandi, deceased), Victor (Camilla), and Oscar (Esperanza); as well as many nieces and nephews including Manuela, Maria-Grazia, Carlo, Elena, Pierrette (Roger Caissie), Monica, Marzio, Marco, and Lukas.
In a 2016 letter to his daughter, George wrote: “Life is short. Think of a breeze; it passes through — we cannot stop it and hold it. Enjoy!”
His words remain a fitting reflection of how he lived — embracing adventure, working hard, staying active, and appreciating every moment.
Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Wallace Funeral Home, 34 Sunnyside Drive, Sussex. Words of comfort and remembrance will be shared at Wards Creek Cemetery on June 20th at 11:30am.
