Obituary for Anthony Misquitta (Misquitta)
MISQUITTA, Anthony -
It is with love and sadness that we announce the passing of Anthony Misquitta on November 4, 2020 at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre. Beloved husband of 52 years to Myra (nee Lobo). Loving father of Errol and his wife Christine (nee Rodrigues) and Christine and her husband Desmond Ali. Proud Papa of Jacob, Zachary, Ethan and Brandon. Cherished brother of Andrew (Yvonne), Agnes (Francis), Annie (the late Francis), Ave (Joe), Angela (Anthony), Alba (Danny) and Alma (Neville). Brother in-law to Tina, Jenny, Rozena and their spouses and uncle to many nieces and nephews.
Anthony was devoted to his church, loved working in his garden, playing cards, bowling, and traveling with friends and family. His generous heart and infectious smile made him a best friend to many and he will be forever loved and missed beyond measure. In lieu of flowers, donations made in Anthony’s memory to the Odette Cancer Centre at the Sunnybrook Hospital Foundation (donate.sunnybrook.ca) or the Canadian Cancer Society (support.cancer.ca) would be greatly appreciated by the family.
Please note, due to COVID-19 restrictions, open visitation will be held on Sunday, Nov 8th between 4pm and 6pm. A private funeral mass will be held on Monday, Nov 9th, 2020 by invitation only. For others wishing to pay their respects virtually, please go to http://distantlink.com/nfh.html on November 9th, 2020 at 10am. Online condolences can be made at newediukfuneralhome.com
Anthony Misquitta-Errol_eulogy:
Good Morning and on behalf of my mother Myra, my sister Christine, my wife Christine, Desmond, my brother-in-law, Jacob, Zachary, Ethan, Brandon, and myself, Errol, I welcome everyone and thank you for being here for our family as we remember and celebrate a great man, my dad, Anthony Misquitta. Dads are someone to look up to, listen to, talk to, follow, admire, to be proud of, someone to hold and someone to cry with. Someone to try and impress, sometimes rebel against, and, sometimes someone to rebel with, but most of all, with whom to share everything this wonderful life has to offer. I am so incredibly blessed, thankful and fortunate that I can stand here today and tell you that I have had all of this and much, much more with my dad Tony, or T-Pain, or Daddio as I liked to call him. To say I loved my dad would be an understatement -)and while we never really discussed our feelings for each other as much in the past, more recently, we both knew, unequivocally how we felt about each other. I’m going to miss him and cannot begin to imagine not having Dad on the end of a phone or popping by our place after bowling with Kevin to drop off chutney sandwiches or cutlets mom had made for the kids. Dad was not perfect, and at times a stubborn man. But stubborn in the sense that if he believed something or someone was being wronged, would advocate for that person or cause in an effort to correct the situation, not because he wanted his way. He, along with my mother, were kind enough to pass that characteristic to both my sister and myself. But he and mom were also two of the most generous, giving, loving and selfless people I know, who were always there to give a helping hand to anyone who needed it. You realize they didn’t have a lot of friends, because for mom and dad, friends and neighbours, simply became family. I can share memories of my Dad going to the casino with Uncle Andrew, Aunty Yvonne, Uncle Max, Aunty Mabel, Lenny and Melba, or the several bus trips with the card group, leaving Agincourt mall at 5am! Or watching the Jays with anyone he could convince to watch with him. Or even playing a double header of bowling and then going to the casino all in one day! While being very excited and passionate about these events, they weren’t dad’s true love. Yeah, he only had one true love.Dad’s one and only true love was Mom, no doubt about it, and he treated her like a queen. Dad was hard working, working 2 factory jobs so I could play hockey, Chrissy could dance, and still provide a roof over our heads and food on the table. Mom took care of everything on the home front. For 52 years they have shared everything life had offered - together. They were a great team supporting each other in every way. Dad's love was unconditional and this is something I will cherish and miss. I never had to worry about what situation I had gotten myself into, or if I was offending him, I simply had to tell him and we would figure it out together. Not saying he was happy with me, or supportive of my decisions, but the ability to just talk to him made it so much easier.
I would like to thank all of you for being here with us today as we remember and celebrate my dad. To my family, especially Christine, Jakes, and Zachy, I cannot put into words the strength and patience you have offered me over these past few months. I love you all very much, in case you had any doubt. Dad in no uncertain terms, I will miss you so very much. I love you and look forward to when we will see each other again. In closing I will tell you my father didn’t tell me how to live. He lived and let me, and everyone else, watch him do it. In the words of a famous author “if there is immortality to be had among us human beings, it is certainly only in the love that we leave behind. Fathers like mine don’t ever die”
Anthony Misquitta-Christine_eulogy:
It has been such a comfort to know how many people loved our dad. Over the past 5 years there have been endless calls, emails, and when it was possible, visits from people – many of whom are here today – as we all tried to help him through this fight. It has also been incredibly touching to have heard and read so many tributes to him in the last few days and, hearing from people I have never met, how much he touched their lives and how much they will miss him. I really do hope that he knows how much he was loved.
And now I would like to thank my dad. As with Errol, I am so very grateful to him and mom not just for the million things they have given us but, more so, for all the things they have taught us. Dad was an amazing role model and I consider myself very blessed to have had his influence shape who I am and who my kids are turning out to be. As much as he was proud of us, we are incredibly proud to have had him as our dad and papa.
Dad taught me to give.
He was always there for those around him. He volunteered at church even through his treatments until he was physically unable to do so, he would never hesitate to offer someone a ride to church or a picnic, or to a card game. Dad spent countless hours as chauffeur, not just for the many years of ballet lessons and hockey games, but also through a decade I spent living in Hamilton, and in the many years since. And he and mom would come at any time, if called.
I think I have learned to give because of him and believe (or hope) that I am passing this on to our boys. People usually meet me and know I am Tony Misquitta’s daughter because of my eyes. I am hoping that they will also be able to see some of his character in me through my actions.
Dad taught me to work hard.
As Errol mentioned, Dad worked more than one job for most of our childhood to ensure we had not only family comforts but also to allow us the ability to do and try anything we wanted to. Dad showed us firsthand how hard work and perseverance can make anything happen and then he gave us everything he could to start us on our way. Daddy, I think you should be very proud when looking down and seeing where your efforts have gotten us.
Dad also taught me to love your family.
I’ve learned that family is everything and you love them with everything you have—in good times and bad. We’ve been very blessed to have had many good times and unfortunately some very hard times, recently. But we have done so together and hopefully always will with him watching over us. We started as a family of 4, this grew to 10, and with all my aunts, uncles, cousins and Errol and my in-laws, we have a family tree that is thankfully very, very full of love – just as dad would have wanted it. Beyond that, we are so fortunate to have extended family and a wonderful circle of friends that are “family” in the true sense of the word. As I look around the church today, I see so many amazing people that are in our lives not because of blood, but because of Dad and the love and generosity he showed to others.
There are many other things that I could attribute to my dad: my love of ice cream and chocolate, my adoration of kids – anyone’s kids, enjoyment of any and all sports, and the appreciation of a good scotch.
But the most important lesson Dad taught me, and likely taught all of us, is to live life to its fullest.
Dad’s cancer diagnosis and how he faced it has been enlightening in so many ways. I know everyone handles that type of news in their own way, and there is definitely no right or wrong way to do so, but Dad didn’t shy away from living his life at any point and that has been quite an example to witness. He received each diagnosis, had each surgery or treatment, would take his time to heal and then checked with the doctor to see when he could go back to doing what he loved to do, whether it was simply driving, or bowling, or cutting his lawn. He could have claimed he was too weak or tired, he could have been scared that further activity would be too much, but he didn’t. He knew his limits and then went about his living his life to the fullest within those limits – not any imaginary ones, not those set by anyone else – including mom- but his own. If that’s not the greatest example of strength, I honestly don’t know what is.
And that is what has made the last couple of months so very, very hard. Watching him being unable to take his daily walks, or unable to get down the stairs to tend to his garden, or being too breathless to tease his boys on a FaceTime call, or too weak to even hug me properly has hurt – a lot.
The last few years have definitely shown us that tomorrow isn’t guaranteed. Not just for dad, but for any one of us. Life is precious - we all need to make the most of it and live and love while we can. Whenever I would speak to dad, and especially in the last few months when I had to leave him, the last thing I would do was say I love you – to make sure he knew.
One of Dad’s oldest friends, Joe - who I have never met - told me when I called to give him the news that he would pray for us. He said he didn’t need to pray for Dad – because Dad is already up in heaven. And I think he’s right.
Daddy, you have always been my father, but along the way you became one of my best friends. And now you are my angel. I hope you are at peace. I love you and I really hope you knew how much.
It is with love and sadness that we announce the passing of Anthony Misquitta on November 4, 2020 at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre. Beloved husband of 52 years to Myra (nee Lobo). Loving father of Errol and his wife Christine (nee Rodrigues) and Christine and her husband Desmond Ali. Proud Papa of Jacob, Zachary, Ethan and Brandon. Cherished brother of Andrew (Yvonne), Agnes (Francis), Annie (the late Francis), Ave (Joe), Angela (Anthony), Alba (Danny) and Alma (Neville). Brother in-law to Tina, Jenny, Rozena and their spouses and uncle to many nieces and nephews.
Anthony was devoted to his church, loved working in his garden, playing cards, bowling, and traveling with friends and family. His generous heart and infectious smile made him a best friend to many and he will be forever loved and missed beyond measure. In lieu of flowers, donations made in Anthony’s memory to the Odette Cancer Centre at the Sunnybrook Hospital Foundation (donate.sunnybrook.ca) or the Canadian Cancer Society (support.cancer.ca) would be greatly appreciated by the family.
Please note, due to COVID-19 restrictions, open visitation will be held on Sunday, Nov 8th between 4pm and 6pm. A private funeral mass will be held on Monday, Nov 9th, 2020 by invitation only. For others wishing to pay their respects virtually, please go to http://distantlink.com/nfh.html on November 9th, 2020 at 10am. Online condolences can be made at newediukfuneralhome.com
Anthony Misquitta-Errol_eulogy:
Good Morning and on behalf of my mother Myra, my sister Christine, my wife Christine, Desmond, my brother-in-law, Jacob, Zachary, Ethan, Brandon, and myself, Errol, I welcome everyone and thank you for being here for our family as we remember and celebrate a great man, my dad, Anthony Misquitta. Dads are someone to look up to, listen to, talk to, follow, admire, to be proud of, someone to hold and someone to cry with. Someone to try and impress, sometimes rebel against, and, sometimes someone to rebel with, but most of all, with whom to share everything this wonderful life has to offer. I am so incredibly blessed, thankful and fortunate that I can stand here today and tell you that I have had all of this and much, much more with my dad Tony, or T-Pain, or Daddio as I liked to call him. To say I loved my dad would be an understatement -)and while we never really discussed our feelings for each other as much in the past, more recently, we both knew, unequivocally how we felt about each other. I’m going to miss him and cannot begin to imagine not having Dad on the end of a phone or popping by our place after bowling with Kevin to drop off chutney sandwiches or cutlets mom had made for the kids. Dad was not perfect, and at times a stubborn man. But stubborn in the sense that if he believed something or someone was being wronged, would advocate for that person or cause in an effort to correct the situation, not because he wanted his way. He, along with my mother, were kind enough to pass that characteristic to both my sister and myself. But he and mom were also two of the most generous, giving, loving and selfless people I know, who were always there to give a helping hand to anyone who needed it. You realize they didn’t have a lot of friends, because for mom and dad, friends and neighbours, simply became family. I can share memories of my Dad going to the casino with Uncle Andrew, Aunty Yvonne, Uncle Max, Aunty Mabel, Lenny and Melba, or the several bus trips with the card group, leaving Agincourt mall at 5am! Or watching the Jays with anyone he could convince to watch with him. Or even playing a double header of bowling and then going to the casino all in one day! While being very excited and passionate about these events, they weren’t dad’s true love. Yeah, he only had one true love.Dad’s one and only true love was Mom, no doubt about it, and he treated her like a queen. Dad was hard working, working 2 factory jobs so I could play hockey, Chrissy could dance, and still provide a roof over our heads and food on the table. Mom took care of everything on the home front. For 52 years they have shared everything life had offered - together. They were a great team supporting each other in every way. Dad's love was unconditional and this is something I will cherish and miss. I never had to worry about what situation I had gotten myself into, or if I was offending him, I simply had to tell him and we would figure it out together. Not saying he was happy with me, or supportive of my decisions, but the ability to just talk to him made it so much easier.
I would like to thank all of you for being here with us today as we remember and celebrate my dad. To my family, especially Christine, Jakes, and Zachy, I cannot put into words the strength and patience you have offered me over these past few months. I love you all very much, in case you had any doubt. Dad in no uncertain terms, I will miss you so very much. I love you and look forward to when we will see each other again. In closing I will tell you my father didn’t tell me how to live. He lived and let me, and everyone else, watch him do it. In the words of a famous author “if there is immortality to be had among us human beings, it is certainly only in the love that we leave behind. Fathers like mine don’t ever die”
Anthony Misquitta-Christine_eulogy:
It has been such a comfort to know how many people loved our dad. Over the past 5 years there have been endless calls, emails, and when it was possible, visits from people – many of whom are here today – as we all tried to help him through this fight. It has also been incredibly touching to have heard and read so many tributes to him in the last few days and, hearing from people I have never met, how much he touched their lives and how much they will miss him. I really do hope that he knows how much he was loved.
And now I would like to thank my dad. As with Errol, I am so very grateful to him and mom not just for the million things they have given us but, more so, for all the things they have taught us. Dad was an amazing role model and I consider myself very blessed to have had his influence shape who I am and who my kids are turning out to be. As much as he was proud of us, we are incredibly proud to have had him as our dad and papa.
Dad taught me to give.
He was always there for those around him. He volunteered at church even through his treatments until he was physically unable to do so, he would never hesitate to offer someone a ride to church or a picnic, or to a card game. Dad spent countless hours as chauffeur, not just for the many years of ballet lessons and hockey games, but also through a decade I spent living in Hamilton, and in the many years since. And he and mom would come at any time, if called.
I think I have learned to give because of him and believe (or hope) that I am passing this on to our boys. People usually meet me and know I am Tony Misquitta’s daughter because of my eyes. I am hoping that they will also be able to see some of his character in me through my actions.
Dad taught me to work hard.
As Errol mentioned, Dad worked more than one job for most of our childhood to ensure we had not only family comforts but also to allow us the ability to do and try anything we wanted to. Dad showed us firsthand how hard work and perseverance can make anything happen and then he gave us everything he could to start us on our way. Daddy, I think you should be very proud when looking down and seeing where your efforts have gotten us.
Dad also taught me to love your family.
I’ve learned that family is everything and you love them with everything you have—in good times and bad. We’ve been very blessed to have had many good times and unfortunately some very hard times, recently. But we have done so together and hopefully always will with him watching over us. We started as a family of 4, this grew to 10, and with all my aunts, uncles, cousins and Errol and my in-laws, we have a family tree that is thankfully very, very full of love – just as dad would have wanted it. Beyond that, we are so fortunate to have extended family and a wonderful circle of friends that are “family” in the true sense of the word. As I look around the church today, I see so many amazing people that are in our lives not because of blood, but because of Dad and the love and generosity he showed to others.
There are many other things that I could attribute to my dad: my love of ice cream and chocolate, my adoration of kids – anyone’s kids, enjoyment of any and all sports, and the appreciation of a good scotch.
But the most important lesson Dad taught me, and likely taught all of us, is to live life to its fullest.
Dad’s cancer diagnosis and how he faced it has been enlightening in so many ways. I know everyone handles that type of news in their own way, and there is definitely no right or wrong way to do so, but Dad didn’t shy away from living his life at any point and that has been quite an example to witness. He received each diagnosis, had each surgery or treatment, would take his time to heal and then checked with the doctor to see when he could go back to doing what he loved to do, whether it was simply driving, or bowling, or cutting his lawn. He could have claimed he was too weak or tired, he could have been scared that further activity would be too much, but he didn’t. He knew his limits and then went about his living his life to the fullest within those limits – not any imaginary ones, not those set by anyone else – including mom- but his own. If that’s not the greatest example of strength, I honestly don’t know what is.
And that is what has made the last couple of months so very, very hard. Watching him being unable to take his daily walks, or unable to get down the stairs to tend to his garden, or being too breathless to tease his boys on a FaceTime call, or too weak to even hug me properly has hurt – a lot.
The last few years have definitely shown us that tomorrow isn’t guaranteed. Not just for dad, but for any one of us. Life is precious - we all need to make the most of it and live and love while we can. Whenever I would speak to dad, and especially in the last few months when I had to leave him, the last thing I would do was say I love you – to make sure he knew.
One of Dad’s oldest friends, Joe - who I have never met - told me when I called to give him the news that he would pray for us. He said he didn’t need to pray for Dad – because Dad is already up in heaven. And I think he’s right.
Daddy, you have always been my father, but along the way you became one of my best friends. And now you are my angel. I hope you are at peace. I love you and I really hope you knew how much.