Fr. Carlo Della Vecchia C.PP.S., 95, a Missionary of the Precious Blood of the Atlantic Province, succumbed to complications from COVID-19 on April 15, 2020. He was born in Segni, Italy on August 19, 1924 and was ordained to the diocesan priesthood on August 14, 1948. After entering the Missionaries in 1953 he was assigned to the Italo-American Delegation of the Italian Province in the United States. His first assignment was Most Precious Blood parish in Rochester, NY. He would go on to serve in other parishes staffed by the Missionaries including Our Lady of Mt. Carmel in Niles, Ohio; St. Anthony in Rochester, NY as well as St. Alphonus and St. Roch in Toronto.
After retirement in 2012 he lived at St. Roch’s parish in Toronto where he continued to minister part-time. His final years were spent at the Villa Leonardo Gambin in Toronto where he died. Fr. Carlo’s love for the priesthood of Jesus Christ was known to all who met him throughout his 71 years of ordination. He had a natural charm and presence which lent an air of calm and serenity to every gathering. His many friends whom he visited for an espresso or “more” on many an evening counted it an honor when he visited their homes. He will always be remembered for his gregarious nature, sense of humor and his booming voice.
Fr. Carlo was pre-deceased by his parents, Antonio and Pietrina, a brother Dante and sister Antonietta. In addition to his religious community, of which he was a much-beloved member, he is survived by his sisters Ermelinda and Clotilde as well as many nieces and nephews. Committal rites were held on April 21 at the Queen of Heaven cemetery in Toronto with a funeral Mass to be scheduled at a later date.