Giovanni Perri

With heavy hearts and extreme sadness, we announce the passing of Giovanni, “John”, Perri, who passed away peacefully on August 14, 2025, at the age of 89. He was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, son, uncle, and dear friend. Giovanni will be missed by all who knew and loved him.

Born June 8, 1936, in Sassano, province of Cosensa in Italy to parents Rosario and Giuseppina. In addition to now being reunited with his parents, he is also surrounded by his siblings Santo, Antonietta, and Gilda; his mother and father-in-law, Domenico and Filomena; his brother and sister in laws Giuseppe, Francesco, Bruno and Elisabetta; and his nieces Romana and Mary, who have all predeceased him.

Giovanni is survived by his loving wife of 60 years Carmela, his beloved children Josie and Angela; his precious granddaughters Natasha and Monica; his siblings Dora, Lena and Armando, many brother and sister in laws; his many nieces and nephews, family in Italy and Australia; and many friends.

In 1964, at 28 years old, he decided to come to Canada, where his sister Antonietta and her husband Giuseppe lived in Prince George. He didn’t like the cold, so he quickly moved to Vancouver. He met his wife Carmela, and they married on August 14, 1965.

Their daughters followed in the next few years, and life was full of family, friends, travelling, laughs, celebrations, and love.

He carried on many traditions from Italy. He and Carmela made the best prosciuttos and sausages, he was an excellent winemaker, loved a good vibrant game of bocci, and you name it, he could fix it. Giovanni enjoyed travelling with his wife and children and visited places from Australia to the Pyramids in Egypt, to the Panama Canal, Hawaii, Alaska, Mexico, Las Vegas, and many trips to Italy. Giovanni also travelled all over BC and the Yukon, for his job with Chubb delivering vault doors and safes and setting them up in banks all over the place. He was a locksmith by trade and ran his company, Commercial Lock & Safe from 1985 until he retired in 2001. He was a jack of all trades and was always willing to take on any job such as fix your car; build a fence, shed or deck; fix your computer; do some plumbing; cut the grass; teach you to drive; clean the gutters; cook on the BBQ; you name it he could do it.

Giovanni’s greatest passion and most valued experiences were spending time with friends and family, whether it was social gatherings and BBQs in his backyard, playing cards after dinner with his granddaughters, picnics in the park, or just hanging out in his “office” watching soccer games and hacking satellite codes.

Dad and Nonno you will be missed by all who knew and loved you, especially your girls.

A Funeral Mass will take place on Thursday, September 4th, 2025, at 11:00am at St. Mathew’s R.C. Parish, 16079 88 Ave, Surrey, BC. A reception will follow immediately after the Mass in the Jubilee Hall next to the church.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory to the Alzheimer Society of British Columbia. Please send donations by cheque to Suite 300 – 828 West 8th Avenue, Vancouver, BC, V5Z 1E2 or donate online at Alzheimer Society of British Columbia.