Prokopy, Mary Theresa (Gallelli) and Peter
Mary Theresa Prokopy (Gallelli) was born in 1916, the third child of Nick and Julia Gallelli, the only girl among four brothers. During the years when the Gallelli business was run from the family home, Mary assisted her mother in all office dealings , handling telephones, booking jobs, hiring employees, and assembling and dispensing payroll. Payroll was distributed from the house, and payday saw employees lined up and out the door at the Gallelli home.
After the business moved to its own location, Mary worked with her mother to assist many of the new Italians who came to Calgary in establishing themselves, finding them employment with Gallelli and Sons, and providing support and advice. Mary attended St. Angela’s School and St. Mary’s Girls’ High School.
In 1942, she married a boy who had also grown up in Riverside, Peter Prokopy, a long time friend and athletic team mate of her brothers. He became a University of Alberta educated Civil Engineer employed with Imperial Oil; his clients included Gallelli & Sons and he provided crude oil and asphalt for many of their undertakings. Early in their marriage, Mary and Peter lived in the Gallelli home, where their first son, Terry, was born. In 1945 they built a home on the hill above the family home where they raised their two sons, Terry and Lorne, and where both Mary and Peter lived the rest of their lives.
Mary was her mother’s right hand throughout her life and was an integral part of all family undertakings and gatherings. Lively family dinners were a weekly occurrence during the
years the family was in business, and the ever-growing family congregated at the Gallelli home for all special occasions, gathering over tables of traditional Italian fare, wonderfully prepared and unforgettably delicious. Mary, together with her mother, was the guardian of the family, maintaining the hearth to which all were drawn and over which the bonds were maintained. Mary was also the confidante of her mother and shared in the discussions, decisions, successes and problems which arose over the years in both family and business matters.
Proud of her Italian heritage and proud to be a Gallelli, Mary demonstrated the spirit, determination, work ethic and confidence of the Gallelli’s characteristics which were vital to their success in the development and building of the city of Calgary.
Mary died in Calgary in March 2002.
Written by: Linda Payne with Lorne and Terry Prokopy
Source: Family recollections and photographs
Editorial Review: Reviewed and formatted by the Calgary Italian History Project for web publication