Lodovica "Lodi" Forte (nee Bressanutti)

December 7, 2017
It is with great sadness that we announce the death of our dear wife, sister, mother and grandmother, Lodovica (Lodi) Forte (nee Bressanutti) on December 7, 2017.

Lodi was born in Pozzo Di Codroipo, in the Province of Udine, Italy in 1931. She came to Trail with her mother at the age of three to join her father who was working in the smelter. She grew up in the Gulch and was the first Miss Trail in 1951. Her grandchildren grew up thinking she was the Queen of Trail; especially since it seemed when they came to visit and walked down the street, everyone knew her. Trail was her beloved home and her life-long community.

Lodi married Gigi Forte in 1954 and they lived and worked in Trail for nearly all their life together. They raised two sons, Peter and Raymond. They ran the B&N grocery on Nelson Avenue, Lodi worked at Lerose Mercantile and then for many years for West Kootenay Power.

Wherever she went, she made friends who she enjoyed and cherished throughout her life. She and her tesoro, Gigi, were lucky enough to share many years of healthy retirement, travelling the world and especially relishing winters in Palm Springs with their friends in the Trail travelling cocktail party. Her friends and family will all remember her lovely garden in Tadanac and her love of picking mushrooms in the fall at her secret haunts around the Tadanac neighborhood.

Lodi had a very special gift and way with people. If you met her, within ten minutes, she would know all about you, your family, and would have your address so she could send cookies. Her Christmas card list contained addresses from all over the planet.

A favorite Lodi story: while waiting for a flight at Los Angeles International airport, Lodi befriended a young lady who seemed to be upset. Before they parted, Lodi had her address and of course later sent cookies. As it turned out, the young lady was a pit boss at the El Dorado hotel in Reno. From this airport acquaintance, Lodi and Gigi received an invitation to participate in the hotel's annual Italian Festival Spaghetti Cookoff. For several years, they shared their love of Italian food and culture with many new friends, including one of the Gallo brothers.

Once Lodi extolled the virtues of a particular pasta to a booth visitor who happened to be the owner of the company and it resulted in a surprise delivery of 200 pounds of pasta to their home in Tadanac.

The Forte house was always a welcoming place filled with Lodi's wonderful food and much laughter. Friends near and far were always welcome for lunch on the deck, supper at Lodi's table and always a glass of wine. Lodi's guiding principle was kindness and she lived her life with joy and gusto. We will love her always and miss her terribly.

Lodi is survived by her husband Gigi, her son Peter, his wife Lori, and their children John and Eleanor; her son Raymond, his wife Cyndy and their children Luke and Jake, her brother Terry and his wife Lorraine, her sister-in-law Nice Dunford, her sister-in-law Helen Forte, nephews, nieces, godchildren and numerous cousins all over the world.

She was predeceased by her parents, Vittorio and Leonora Bressanutti, her in-laws Pietro and Santa Forte, brothers-in-law Nini Forte and Fred Dunford.

In her time at Columbia View Lodi felt the gardens and landscaping needed some care and attention.

Any memorial donations can be made to the Kootenay Boundary Regional Hospital Health Foundation (Columbia View Lodge) at 1200 Hospital Bench, Trail, BC, V1R 4M1 or online at www.kbrhhealthfoundation.ca and will be used to make things brighter and more cheerful for the staff and future residents of Columbia View.

The family would like to thank Dr. Yo and the wonderful and caring nurses and staff at Columbia View Lodge, the staff at Interior Health Community Nursing Services, especially Shannon, and the folks at Serendipity Home Care.

A mass of intention will be said for Lodi at Holy Trinity on the evening of Saturday, December 30, 2017.

A Funeral Mass and Celebration of Life for both Gigi and Lodi will take place on Friday, August 24, 2018 at 10:30 am at Holy Trinity Catholic Parish with Father Francis dela Cruz, Celebrant. A reception will be held at the Colombo Lodge following the Mass.

As they were for so long together in life, they will leave us together.

Bill Clark of Alternatives Funeral and Cremation Services has been entrusted with arrangements.

You are invited to leave a personal message of condolence at the family's online register at www.myalternatives.ca
 Alternatives Funeral and Cremation Services

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