Serani, Guerrino (Peter) and Catherine (Siviglia)
Updated: Oct 6
Guerrino Serani was born in Calgary, Alberta, on October 23, 1914. The family home was located at 412 2nd Avenue N.E., where he and his siblings were born. He attended St. Angela’s School from Grade 1 through Grade 9, just a block from the family residence.
Although he briefly attended St. Mary’s Boys High School, he did not complete Grade 10. Throughout his life, he often spoke fondly of his years at St. Angela’s, recalling his teachers, classmates, and many childhood experiences.
At a young age, Guerrino took a part-time job selling the Calgary Herald on downtown street corners. As a boy, he also owned a horse, giving him the freedom to explore the open spaces north of the Bow River at a time when Calgary was still a much smaller city. He also took music lessons, learning to play the clarinet under the guidance of Professor Pompilio.
One of his favourite stories was about visiting the Palmetto Bakery in downtown Calgary, owned by Peter Sereni. He would often joke that, because the family names Serani and Sereni were so similar, he occasionally received pastries without having to pay for them.
Guerrino grew up during a period marked by economic hardship, the Great Depression, and the Second World War. Employment opportunities were scarce during the Depression, and he recalled travelling throughout Canada in search of work before eventually returning home.
During the Second World War, Guerrino served in the Canadian Army. He completed basic training on Vancouver Island before continuing his training in Vernon, British Columbia. He was then posted to the Canadian Army base in Jamaica, where he participated in training exercises and military manoeuvres while guarding Italian and German prisoners of war. After about a year, he was transferred overseas, travelling through England, Scotland, and Holland. Like many veterans of his generation, he rarely spoke about the realities of the war itself.
Following the war, Guerrino returned to Calgary, where he met Catherine Siviglia, who had moved to the city from Kimberley, British Columbia, in 1944. They married in 1947 and soon purchased their first home on 17th Avenue N.W.Throughout his working life, Guerrino held a variety of jobs. During the early 1950s, he operated a shooting gallery at Bowness Park during the summer months and worked for a time at the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) shops in southeast Calgary. His favourite position, however, was with the City of Calgary Parks Department, where he spent many years.
Guerrino and Catherine had two sons: Nello (Rosa), residing in Calgary, and Rick (Danielle), residing in Kelowna.
Written by: Nello Serani
Source: Family recollections and photographs
Editorial Review: Reviewed and formatted by the Calgary Italian History Project for web publication.