Obituary of Gene Peter Frendo
Generoso “Gene” Peter Frendo
23 May 1936 - 5 September 2024
After a final short battle in hospital, our beloved Gene was finally called home to God.
He went on his final journey surrounded by so many family and friends who stood vigil day and night until his final passing through the pearly gates on 5 September 2024 in his 89th year.
Gene will be missed most deeply by his “qalbi” - his heart - Carmen Frendo (nee Zahra) - his wife and one true love of nearly 70 years. They were blessed to celebrate 66 years of marriage this past June in Malta where they renewed their vows in the Church in which they married in 1958, and were blessed again to meet Pope Francis in Rome thereafter and received his Papal blessing.
Gene is also survived by his 7 children - Marion (Gary), Michael (Marylou), Debbie (Rob), Gene (Kathy), Joy (Andrew), Joe (Isabelle), and Jen (Martin). Gene was also so blessed to have 16 grandchildren - Michele (Devin), Leslie (Alan), Andrew (Thomasin), Theresa (Andrew), Kath (Rosella), Tania (Robert), Kelly, Christina (Benson), Meagan, Darcy, Matthew (Madison), Madeleine, Nicolas, Aliya, Yasmine, and Joseph, as well as 13 great-grandchildren - Camden, William, Ben, Owen, Nolan, Emry, Lorelei, Elara, Alexander, Mariella, Zahra, Zoba, and Carmen. He also has so many nieces and nephews here and overseas that regard him as an honorary father (Marisa VanderVaart and family, John Eymann and family, and Bavani Mylvaganam) and favourite uncle.
In the age of modern families, Gene also has many step-grandchildren - Abigail, Trevor, Jeran, Darian, Aidan, Nicole, Natasha, the late Nathan, as well as many step-great-grandchildren.
He is also survived by his brother, Lino (Carmen), and his siblings-in-law - Joseph (Miriam), Charles, Lino (Doris), and Nina (wife of his late brother Anthony), best friends Pierina and Pio Osti, and of course we cannot forget the fur-baby, Puppa. He is also survived by his cousin Carmena Camilleri and her family.
Gene is predeceased by his parents Carmelo and Silvestra, his parents-in-law Joseph and Antonia, and several siblings and in-laws - Carmenu (Dolly), Josephine (Jack) Eymann, Clementina (Joseph) Falzon, Anthony, Mariella, and Aunty Gemma and Uncle Percy Pereira, siblings lost in early childhood, and many good friends over the years who will welcome Gene into the breakfast club in Heaven. He will also be happy to see his pets that passed before him and who he talked about into his dying days.
Gene was born in Malta, and witnessed a great deal in WWII as a child that affected him throughout his life. He was raised in a strong Christian faith and had the benefit of being mentored directly by St. George Preca of Malta. He was a true jack-of-all-trades having worked in the shipyards in Malta, various industries in Canada including TRW - Thompson Products Division, Fleet Aircraft, Foster Wheeler, and Genaire - as a skilled tool and die maker and consultant. He moved to Canada with his blushing bride Carmen soon after their marriage in 1958. They succeeded against all odds when Canada was plunged into a recession soon after their arrival. When the job Gene was promised no longer existed, they worked hard, led by example, accepted and supported all, and put 7 children through university. All became professionals in their field and contributors to society as a whole. Despite so much adversity along the way, they faced their challenges with kindness, generosity, and fortitude. They even built a home on a farm during the financial crush of the ‘80s where their kids continued to learn the value of a dollar and a good day’s work, and the treat of ice cream outings as a family. Gene also taught them well in the ways of hockey. Not a skater, but a true-blue Leaf fan till the end. Luckily he saw them win a Stanley Cup or two in his lifetime…
Our family would like to extend special thanks to all the compassionate care Dad received over the years, most recently the special teams in many departments at Niagara Health and Hamilton Health Sciences, his family doctor - Dr. Dirgham Al-Jarrah and the docs and health team in NOTL, and homecare. A special thank you to Shirley - companion to Mum and Dad, and friend of the family.
Family and friends are invited to join us at GEORGE DARTE FUNERAL HOME, 585 Carlton Street, St. Catharines. Visitation will take place on Thursday, 12 September from 2-4pm and 6-8 pm with vigil prayers during the afternoon visitation. The funeral mass is set for 11am, Friday 13 September, at St. Julia Roman Catholic Church, with a procession departing from the funeral home prior. A live webcast is also being planned and will be available at https://www.youtube.com/c/StJuliaRomanCatholicChurchStCatharines and click on “Live”