DiPaolo, Enrico and Cesira (Iafolla)

Known as “La Zia per Tutti,” Cesira DiPaolo devoted her life to helping immigrants, supporting her community, and caring for family.

Cesira DiPaolo (née Iafolla) was born on May 9, 1900, in the mountain village of Villalago, L’Aquila, to Concetta Grossi and Alfonso Iafolla. Life in the family home was busy and demanding, shaped by the rhythms of rural life and the needs of a large household. As the fourth of seven children, Cesira quickly learned responsibility, often caring for her younger siblings while the older ones worked in the fields. From an early age, she became accustomed to helping wherever she was needed — a role she would carry with her throughout her life.

In 1920, Enrico DiPaolo traveled from Calgary to Villalago to court Cesira, who was immediately taken by the dashing young man. The couple married in 1921 and soon afterward boarded the Tunisian, bound for Quebec. After days of train travel, they arrived in Calgary, where Cesira was welcomed by her older sister, Concetta Maria. Although she was overjoyed to reunite with her sister’s family, the uncertainty of a new country filled her with both apprehension and fear.

The newlyweds settled in Bridgeland, the heart of a vibrant Italian community and close to her sister’s home. Enrico continued working for the CPR, while Cesira aspired to contribute to her new community. She devoted herself to learning English and, within four months, became proficient enough to advocate for newly arrived Italian immigrants. She was frequently called upon by the General Hospital to translate important information for Italian patients.

Her volunteer work soon expanded, and Cesira became the person many Italians turned to when searching for employment. She often introduced prospective workers as “my cousin from Italy,” and it was during this time that she became affectionately known as Zia Cesira, or Aunt Jessie.

Yet volunteerism alone did not fulfill her ambitions. Cesira longed to pursue the sewing skills she had learned as a girl in Villalago. She refined her craft in Calgary’s fur industry, working for prominent furriers such as Allister’s Furs, Rudolf’s, and Lovasi Furriers. Her nieces, Beatrice and Alfonsina, worked alongside her cleaning furs. Beatrice later recalled the strong smells of the dingy basement and the severe rashes she developed from the chemicals used in the cleaning process.

Eventually, Cesira set up her own workshop in her basement, where she created fur coats, stoles, hats, and jackets for cousins and nieces alike. Once a week, my mother, Emma, and I would visit Zia to help with one of her projects. I can still hear the steady rhythm of the sewing machine, smell the freshly cut furs, and remember the strange sounds echoing through that damp basement. It has even been said that Zia’s ghost still roams there — a space that is now part of the restaurant Villa Firenze.

Cesira’s deep connection to her family was always evident. She faithfully sent parcels filled with “Canadiana” to loved ones near and far. Her brother Davide and sister Iole, who lived in New York, regularly received packages containing crocheted hats, scarves, and cherished keepsakes. Perhaps the most poignant parcels were those sent to her youngest brother, Achille, while he was a prisoner of war in South Africa. Despite arriving opened and badly torn, the packages were eagerly welcomed, as they contained precious goods such as sugar, sweets, and clothing that were otherwise unavailable to him.

Shortly after Zia’s passing, while we were cleaning out her home, we discovered a redacted postcard that Dad had once sent to his sister from a prisoner of war camp. We felt it was Zia’s gentle way of reminding us that she was still watching over her family.

In her later years, Cesira continued to give generously to her community, especially during Christmas. Her Bridgeland home would be filled with crocheted items ready to be distributed to relatives, friends, and those in need. Every parcel included Zia’s signature antipasto, homemade baked goods, and something lovingly crocheted by hand. Her dedication to charity was formally recognized in November 1984, when Aunt Jessie was awarded the distinguished title of “Unsung Hero.” Nominated by Anna Grossi, whose father-in-law was Cesira’s cousin, she received a monetary award of $800, which she promptly donated to her church and to children in Ethiopia (Calgary Herald, Saturday, November 17, 1984).

Cesira was also a devout Catholic who attended weekly Mass at Our Lady of Perpetual Help. Her devotion to the Virgin Mary formed the cornerstone of her faith. Each May, she organized Marian devotions, encouraging families to set up home altars for the praying of the rosary. Zia’s gathering was always the most anticipated. After prayers, coffee and pastries would fill the dining room table, turning the rosary into both a spiritual and social occasion that united the Italian community in prayer and celebration.

Cesira Iafolla DiPaolo lived a life defined by faith, generosity, and an unwavering devotion to family and community. Through simple acts of care — a shared meal, a handmade gift, a door always open — she brought people together and made others feel at home. Remembered by many as La Zia per Tutti, she leaves behind a legacy of kindness that continues to live on in those she touched. She passed away in 1991 at the age of 90 and rests beside her husband, Enrico, at St. Mary’s Cemetery.