ZIRALDO, Edward

Left us with his customary dignity and humility on July 1, 2015 to be reunited with his beloved Mary Theresa, his wife of over 57 years, who went to the Lord suddenly on August 31, 2014. Ed passed after a short but brave fight with cancer at his beloved home in Markham Left behind to grieve for this wonderful, faithful family Patriarch are his daughter Anna, son Edward Paul, son-in-law Jim and daughter-in-law Michele. Missing Grandad greatly are Lynne, Rick, Catherine, Jamie, Natalie, Danielle, Alexander and Zachary. Ed’s beloved great grandchildren, who made him a “Bis Nono” are Alexcia, Noah and Sadie, who are much the less fortunate for not getting to fully know this great man. Survived by his Sister, Gloria of Summit, NJ and predeceased by Sisters Mary and Velia. Ed is survived by his beloved Sister-in-Laws, Peggy and Edna, as well as many nieces and nephews and close friends and business associates. Ed was born in Toronto on November 8, 1934 to Friuli immigrants, Marcellina and Allessandro on the kitchen table of his Blackthorne Ave home. He lived a very colourful youth full of excitement and stories including his first job at a variety store in the west end to his back alley craps games. After meeting Mary in the mid 1950’s, he decided it was time to get serious and settle down. With three young partners, he established Structural Formwork Ltd., a concrete formwork company in Toronto, of which industry was in its fledgling stage in 1961. Ed and his partners turned their $8,000 investment into a group of companies that has done sales breaking a billion dollars. Look anywhere in the city of Toronto and it’s not hard to see Ed’s mark. Ed settled in the town of Markham , had his two children, watched as his grandchildren and great-grandchildren rolled in and was every moment a true family man. An extremely devout Roman Catholic, Ed was a great patron to the Church, but never looked to be in the limelight and was always at peace with the Lord. Although born in Toronto, Ed spoke only Friuliano for the first years of his life and always commented on the fact that he failed grade one due to the fact his English was so poor. He never lost the flavor for the Friuli language and was a founding member of the Famee Furlane Centre in Woodbridge. Ed’s philosophy was always that “you catch more flies with honey, than with piss and vinegar” and he applied this motto to his daily life. There are countless individuals that can honestly say that their encounters with Ed improved their lives, either materially or spirutally. Ed was a beacon of positivity and will continue to live through his family in that same light. Family and friends may visit at Dixon-Garland Funeral Home 166 Main Street North Markham, ON. (905) 294-2030 on Saturday from 7-9pm, Sunday 2-4 and 7-9pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday at 1030am at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, 5633 Hwy 7 , Markham. Interment Holy Cross Cemetery. To leave an online condolence please go to www.dixongarland.com. In lieu of flowers, Ed would appreciate donations to his most revered charity, The Good Shepherd Centre, 412 Queen Street East, Toronto Ontario M5A 1T3

A golden heart stopped beating,
Hard working hands to rest,
God broke our hearts to prove to us,
He only takes the best,
Although his heart stopped beating,
And a cure was not to be,
So he put his arms around him,
And whispered "Come with me",
With tearful eyes we watched him suffer,
And saw him fade away,
Although we love him dearly,
We could not make him stay
His love will always remain,
His absence puts upon our hearts,
A very heavy strain,
For now he is in a place of everlasting rest,
We just have to understand that God,
He only takes the best.