Maria (Mariuzza) Allevato (nee Talerico) died peacefully in her home, as she had wanted, on May 21, 2021, at the age of 89. Earlier in the day she had been visited by her beloved great-grandchildren Oakley and Vincent, and her grandchildren Daniela and Luis. Her profound love for her family, especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, is beyond what words can describe. Maria was born on April 18, 1932 in San Giovanni in Fiore, a town in the Apennine plateau in Calabria, in the far south of Italy. She was the only child of Costanza Lucente (e Parmella) and Peppino Talerico (u Mutu). She attended public school to grade 5: she wanted to be a teacher but educational opportunities were limited in southern Italy in the 1940s, especially for girls. At 19 she married Domenico (Ruminicu) Allevato and was immediately immersed in a large group of sisters- and brothers-in-law: 3 brothers and 7 sisters at one shot. She spent her early adulthood between a rural home in La Sila and town. They had 4 daughters. She instilled in them the love of learning and self-reliance, and a stubborn determination to overcome obstacles. This was a time of mass migration from southern Italy in search of economic opportunity. In 1960 Domenico found work in Switzerland and a year later Maria followed him there, leaving the girls in the care of their grandparents. In 1962 Domenico came to Canada, having been sponsored by his younger sister Assunta who had moved to Canada to be married. Maria packed up their four young daughters and flew to Canada. They landed in Montreal and changed flights in every provincial capital from there until they landed in Calgary. None of them spoke any English. Maria’s sister-in-law Teresa joined them in Calgary, and a few months later they drove across the prairies to Ontario. They settled in Toronto’s little Italy before moving to the suburbs. Over the next few years, Maria’s sisters-in-law Rosa and then Franca lived with them as they too made the migration from Italy. Maria and Domenico made their home in Rexdale where they lived for the last 50 years. They grew tomatoes and raised their daughters and hosted their grandchildren for long stretches each summer. From the time they moved to Toronto Maria always worked, first at a factory across the street from their home in downtown Toronto printing towels, then for a brief period making Christmas lights at Beck Electric, then at Alcan making foil and pie-plates, then at Salada in the pie-making department, and finally her last job at a toy warehouse where they made toy trucks and dolls. Her family still cherishes some of those Beck Electric Christmas ornaments. After she retired, she spent the following decades as the heart of her extensive network of friends and family. Although most famous for her unparalleled Italian cooking, truly the greatest gift she shared with the people in her life was her openness, warmth, and genuine interest in the people around her. She made friends everywhere she went, across lines of language and culture. In her presence, we felt loved and cherished exactly as we were. Maria was tenacious in the face of every obstacle, including two difficult battles with cancer in her later years. Doctors marveled at all she managed to overcome and her family was lucky to have a bit more time with her. Much loved, much to be missed, Maria lived a long and full life, and her most cherished legacy is the family she leaves behind. She is pre-deceased by her son-in-law John Morris, and survived by her husband Domenico, her aunt Filomena, her daughters Carmela (Jim), Costanza (Peter), Pina (Mike), and Saverina, her grandchildren Martina (Derek), Susanna (Vicky), Daniela (Logan), and Luis (Kiera) and her great-grandchildren Henry, Zoe, Iris, Adele, Oakley, and Vincent, and her many cousins, nieces, and nephews in Canada, the United States, and Europe. Unfortunately due to Covid-19, all services will be held in private with the immediate family members only. Online condolences may be shared by clicking "Memory Wall". As we continue to pray for an end to this horrible virus, the Allevato family would like to thank everyone for their continued support during this time of sorrow.