Maria del Carmen Firenze – Milleiro

Maria del Carmen Firenze-Milleiro, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt and friend, passed away peacefully on April 29, 2025, surrounded by her children and grandchildren. Maria was born on March 21, 1942, in Isla de Arosa, Galicia, Spain, to Carmen Suarez and Fernando Milleiro. She studied dressmaking in Spain and went on to work in Germany (where she met her future husband) and Canada. She opened her own Dressmaking and Alterations business (Maria's Alterations) in Park Royal, West Vancouver. From 1976 to 1984, she provided many young women with their dream gowns for their special events. After closing her business and her children finishing high school, Maria became a home-stay mom to international students, making many friends along the way before taking early retirement. She became a grandmother in 1995 and a great-grandmother in 2024. She considered her children and grandchildren her greatest accomplishment. She was happiest when spending time with them.

Maria dedicated her life to her family, working to give her children the best opportunities and later caring for her grandchildren. Maria was known for her warm smile, gentle but spunky spirit, sense of humour and her kindness.

She is survived by her husband, Calogero "Paolo", children, Miriam Irving (Wayne), Elizabeth Silva (Lawrence) and Giuseppe Firenze (Dianne); her grandchildren, Matthew and Scott Irving, Natasha and Raquel Silva (Connor), Vanessa, Marissa and Stefanie Firenze, great-grandchild, Gabriel Logan, brothers, Francisco (Monchita), Juan, Antonio (Maria), sisters, Binuca (Ure), Marina (Santiago), and numerous extended family in Spain, Italy, Belgium and Canada.

A funeral service will be held on May 10, 2025, 12:00 p.m. at St. Pius X Catholic Church, 1150 Mt. Seymour Parkway, North Vancouver, BC. Visitation is from 11:00 am to 12:00 p.m. for family and friends. A reception will be held in the Parish Hall following the service.

In place of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Backpack Buddies, an organization that provides food to hungry children in British Columbia. https://www.backpackbuddies.ca/about/

Maria will be deeply missed, especially by her children and grandchildren, and by all who knew her. The memory of her love and kindness will live on in the hearts of her family and friends.