Luigi Umberto DiSanto

To Watch The Livestream of the Service Click the Following Link: https://youtube.com/live/PoMGP4CLglw?feature=share

It is with profound sadness, we the family of Luigi Umberto Di Santo share that the Lord Jesus received our dad, our nonno, on April 14, 2025 at St. Paul’s Hospital in Saskatoon, SK.

We will gather to lay him to rest and to remember our papà, an icon and a true legend of the Italian Saskatoon Community on Tuesday, April 22nd, 2025 at 3 pm at St. Paul’s Co-Cathedral celebrated by Father Stefano Penna. Viewing is at 2 pm. Internment at Woodlawn Cemetery follows the mass. After we lay dad to rest, all are invited to celebrate his life in a video presentation and also join our family in a meal.

In lieu of flowers, charitable tax donations may be made to the Saskatoon Community Foundation, Di Santo Fund, which goes to support community needs.

Luigi, affectionately known by our family as “Boss”, is survived by his devoted wife and best friend, Gilda; his three daughters, Carmelina (Rick), Anna (Tony) and Gina (Mike); his treasured grandchildren, Kayla (Tyson), Tanner (Marta), Thomas (Shaelynn), Stefanie, Olivia, Cinzia, and London; his two precious great-granddaughters, Brielle and Nora; his most recent joy, a great-grandson Santino; and his many nieces and nephews from Canada, France, Switzerland and Italy.

Luigi was predeceased by his parents; Nicola Di Santo and Carmela Petrucci; sister Emilia and husband Tomasso; brother Domenico and wife Rosina; brother Angiolino and wife Alfonsina.

Dad was born on March 17, 1933 in Fresagrandinaria (Fresa), Italy. He borrowed $150 to immigrate to Canada in 1964, which his brother Domenico sponsored him, mom and Carm (2 years old) to come to Canada, On the ship, Saturnia, they took the 9 day voyage across the ocean landing in Halifax November 1964. It was the help by many in the Italian community that supported dad in establishing a life of better opportunity in Canada.

He found his lifelong companion of 64 years our mom, Gilda Antoinetta D’ugo in Fresa. Together they navigated life’s joys and challenges. They would often have Italian-style arguments one minute and then be laughing the next. Together they hosted friends and family on many occasions generously sharing all they had. Dad lived a life devoted to our family. He was a force for our family.

His family back in Italy was of very modest means. He did not get a chance to have much education, yet he was always the smartest man in the room! We learned what was most important, famiglia. He had a special way of teaching you this. We all learned so much from him, his values, his work ethic and his heritage.

Dad was like an international man; working in France, Germany and Italy. He made friends wherever he went. Language was not a barrier for him. He had a way to connect with people with a smile, wave and his genuine face. And he was so stylish, handsome, and charismatic.

With no car, as he did not learn to drive in Canada, he made his way through life never complaining and never asking for anything for himself. He made many sacrifices for us.

To say he worked hard his entire life is understatement. He took great pride in his work as a construction labourer, working for many companies such as Hagblom, PCL and Hamm Construction. For his first job he took a bus to St Mary’s Church when Hagblom hired him to move the altar. He took a bus to all his job sites.

He was very well known in the construction industry - many would say  “he did the work of 3 guys”. He earned this reputation despite having one hand with severed fingers from when he was a young boy playing during the war with an undetonated bomb. His labouring hands helped build our great city - Centennial Auditorium ( TCU Place) Midtown Plaza, Idylwyd Bridge, St Paul’s Hospital Expansion, Sturdy Stone Centre, the University, Circle Dr. Bridge and many, many more landmarks. He often worked throughout Saskatchewan and Manitoba, wherever he could find work, he went. Nothing held him back.

He loved planting a huge garden, making wine every fall, making espresso every morning for mom, being the assistant baker and cook to mom, having a beer with friends and family, eating copious amounts of ice cream sandwiches, barbecuing a big steak, growing several pots of basil, playing the Italian card game Scopa, playing bocce like it was a championship, suntanning in the back yard or in Florida, buying lottery tickets and watching The Young and The Restless and of course, he loved dancing and eating - several times a day! 

His most favourite pastime and mission in life was to bring joy and laughter to those around him and he did that his way….with a big smile.  His last words “I Love Everybody”. Vi vogliamo bene! We love you.