The Story of the Crea Family

Domenico Ripepi was born in 1873 in Podargoni, a small village near Reggio Calabria, Italy. At the age of 39, he made the difficult decision to leave his homeland in search of a better future. In 1912, he boarded the Saint Anna liner along with many other Italian compatriots, crossing the Atlantic Ocean with hope and determination. His journey ended in Halifax, Nova Scotia, before he traveled by train to North Bay, Ontario.

Unfortunately, Domenico had to leave behind his wife, Carmela Ripepi, and their four children: Antonio, Anna, Teresa, and Francesco. In Canada, he found work as a boilermaker helper at the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) Station. Tragically, just two years after his arrival, Domenico passed away on August 8, 1913, due to a heart attack.

His son, Antonio Ripepi, eventually emigrated to Canada in the 1950s and worked in construction. He never married. The other three children remained in Italy and built families of their own. Anna Ripepi, in particular, stayed in Podargoni, where she met and married Antonio Crea in 1926. Together, they had five children: Giovanni, Stefano, Maria, Carmela, and Giuseppe. The family lived in Santo Stefano, Italy. Sadly, Antonio Crea passed away from pneumonia in 1944, leaving Anna to raise their children alone.

A New Beginning in Canada

Stefano Crea, one of Antonio and Anna’s sons, found love with Maria Crea. They married on September 2, 1956, in Santo Stefano and welcomed two children in Italy: Antonio in 1958 and Fortunato in 1960. Stefano and Maria often heard family members in Canada talk about the opportunities there. Maria’s sister Francesca nee Crea and her husband Stefano Sinicrope would then sponsor them and await their arrival. It was then that Stefano and Maria were encouraged by their stories and made the life-changing decision to emigrate.

In 1965, the couple and their two children left Rome aboard the Christopher Columbus liner. Their journey across the ocean took eight days before they landed in Halifax. From there, they traveled by train to North Bay, Ontario, a trip that lasted a day and a half.

Upon arrival, they rented a house on Rose Avenue for $70 a month. In the spring of 1966, Stefano found work at GAP Construction, while Maria dedicated herself to caring for their family. Just a year later, they purchased their first home on Percy Street for $10,000. Their family grew with the births of two more sons: Adolfo in 1968 and Giuseppe in 1970.

Stefano’s hard work and determination led him to become a bricklayer in 1970. Though it took time to establish himself, he eventually started his own business, Crea Construction, in 1979. Unfortunately, due to health issues, he had to close the company in 1983. Stefano passed away in 1994 after a battle with colon cancer.

The Next Generation

The family continued to grow and evolve. In 1995, Stefano’s son married Juliana Mancari, and they celebrated their wedding on August 12, 1995, at St. Rita’s Catholic Church in North Bay. They were blessed with two children: Michaela in 1998 and Stephen 2000.

Life brought joys and sorrows. In 2008, Antonio, Stefano’s eldest son, passed away due to complications from a spinal cord injury. Despite the hardships, the family remained strong, holding onto their roots and the values of hard work and perseverance.Unfortunately Maria Crea, the matriarch of the family, passed away at the age of 90 in 2020.

Their journey, like that of so many Italian immigrants, is a testament to the resilience and sacrifices made by those who sought a better life for their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Their story is one of courage, love, and legacy—a journey from a small village in Calabria to building a future in Canada.