Zappone, Ester

It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of ESTER ZAPPONE, beloved wife of the late Giuseppe "Joe" Zappone, at St. Therese Villa in Lethbridge, on Sunday, November 8, 2020 at the age of 90 years.

Ester is survived by her daughter, Filomena (David) Dowell; her son, Frank (Tracy) Zappone; her grandchildren, Robert, Tony, Marco, and Andrew (Brooke); and her great-grandchildren, Declan and Olive. She is also survived by her sisters, Rose Fiorino of Victoria, B.C., and Mirella Di Sabato of France; and her brother, Joe (Grace) Di Sabato of Lethbridge. Ester was predeceased by her husband, Giuseppe Zappone, her sister, Maria Di Natale of Italy, and two daughters: Mirella, in 2004, and Maria, in 2018.

Ester was born on September 3, 1930 in Agnone in the province of Isernia, Italy to Romeo and Giuseppina Di Sabato. She immigrated to Canada, where she married Giuseppe Zappone on April 28, 1956 at St. Basil's Church in Lethbridge. She was a dedicated and loving woman who embraced her calling to the title of Nonna. Her four children, and later her four grandchildren, were her life's cause. She took pride in keeping her family well fed and happy, both of which came to mean the same thing. As the home she and Giuseppe built grew in shape and size over the years, it was always full, a much-loved destination for family and friends, visitors from next door or from the other side of the world.

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Friday, November 13, 2020 at 10:00 A.M. with Father Kevin Tumback celebrating. The Mass will be live-streamed and may be accessed via Ester's obituary on the Cornerstone website.

Flowers are gratefully declined. Those wishing to make a memorial contribution in Ester's name are encouraged to donate to the Mirella and Maria Zappone Fund for Social Justice at the Community Foundation of Lethbridge and Southwestern Alberta (cflsa.ca/donate).