Cozzubbo, Salvatore and Rosaria (Furnari)

Salvatore Cozzubbo was born in 1861 in Gaggi, Messina Italy. He immigrated to Canada in 1906 along with sons Agatino (Joe) age 12 and Marino age 13. They made their way to Calgary where they settled in the neighborhood of Sunnyside/Hillhurst at 317 -101/2 Street W. While working for the City, Salvatore made a home for his sons till the rest of the family came to join them.

Salvatore and Rosaria

Rosaria Cozzubbo (Furnari) was born 1875 in Gaggi, Messina, Italy. Sailing from Palermo she landed at Ellis Island in 1909 along with her two daughters, Sabastina (Jenny) age 11 and Consetta (Edith) age 10. They stayed in New York City with relatives for 2 years, leaving in 1911 to make the journey to Calgary to join her husband Salvatore and sons.

Brick Building was the store and the house is the Grey building

In 1921 Salvatore bought the building at 1126 Kensington Road where he opened Hillhurst Ice Cream and Confectionery, which remained in operation until the late 1930’s. Family helped out in the store and settled close by with their own families. They were active parishioners of St. John’s Church, and the Italian community. Rosaria ran the Ice Cream Confectionery for a few years after the death of Salvatore in 1932.

Plaque on the Kensington Pub

Salvatore and Rosaria purchased the house behind the store at 1924 at 207 10A Street NW, where Rosaria lived until 1952. Rosaria went to live with her daughter Edith after selling the house. She died in 1955. The house became the home of the Kensington Pub since 1993 and is still in operation.

Marino married Emily Robinson they had 1 child. Agatino (Joe) married Bertha Fortems they had 5 children. Sebastiana (Jenny) married Serafino Taverna they had 5 children. Consetta ,Edith) married James Dipalo they had 8 children.

Written by: Theresa Taverna

Source: Family recollections and photographs

Photos: Taken by author

Editorial Review: Reviewed and formatted by the Calgary Italian History Project for web publication