Giuseppe (Joe) Zappavigna

Joe lived in good health for 104 years, anchoring our family as a steadfast and enduring presence through life’s changes.

He moved from southern Italy to Canada in 1951 in search of a better future, leaving his mother, Maria Teresa, and father, Giovanni. In June 1954, at the age of 32, he was happily reunited with his wife, Caterina, and 5 year-old son, Giovanni (John), at the then CPR train station in Vancouver.

Just months later, through hard work and perseverance, Joe purchased a house at 1324 Hornby Street. He laboured in logging camps on Vancouver Island, earning $1.10 an hour, and helped construct many Vancouver landmarks, including Oakridge Mall, Centennial Building at Vancouver General Hospital, the BC Electric Building, and the Hudson’s Bay parking lot. Though he lived just blocks from the beach, Joe was most often working.

In 1966, he acquired two city lots in East Vancouver. There, he built a home with a large garden where he grew his own food. A farmer at heart, he loved working his land.

Joe retired in 1986 after working “24 years, 2 months, and 7 days” as a maintenance worker at St. Paul’s Hospital. His memory of the exact years, months and days reflects his lifelong commitment to precision and record-keeping.

Joe was predeceased in 2018 by his wife, Caterina, of 70 years. He is remembered with gratitude and love by his son John (Maria); Grandchildren Andrea, Christopher (Robyn), Joanna (Christopher), and Andrew (Julia); Great-Grandchildren Marcus, Elizabeth, Julian, William, Emilia, Alessia, and Matteo.

Mass of Catholic Burial will be celebrated at Our Lady of Sorrows Parish on Tuesday, January 20, 2026 at 11:00 am. Entombment will follow at Ocean View Burial Park, Abbey Mausoleum. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of BC.