March 2013
COMMUNITY NEWS
RenfrewCollingwoodCommunityNews.com
Albert Battistoni Celebration of Life A Celebration of Life for Albert Battistoni was filled with laughter, tears and many, many puns.
Photos: Stephanie Lim
clever word play in the puns he continually told everybody. He even quoted a few: You can tune a guitar but you can’t tuna fish.” And “Two peanuts walked into a bar and one was a salted.”
Albert, one of Collingwood Neighbourhood House’s (CNH) longest-serving volunteers and Michael McLenaghen, CNH director of community services, a fixture in CNH’s lobby, died recalled how Albert would watch earlier this year. He was 89. for children who were attempting to escape by running down the “He chose to be in this place hall or out the front door. and with these people to share all of his contributions, humour “Albert reminded me of a cross and loving nature and this between a hawk and a border feels like a blessing,” former collie. He would see and notice CNH executive director and everything and he had great current community strategist herding instincts as he guided for Renfrew-Collingwood children back to their caregiver.” Intercultural Development Paula Carr said. She added she Albert, whose family emigrated felt deep gratitude for having had Albert in her life and in the to Canada from Italy and then opened and ran Venice Bakery, lives of those who work at, or grew up in Vancouver. Among are involved with, CNH. the 125 people present at the celebration were a group of his Albert arrived at CNH in the early 1990s, to join the Seniors’ peers who grew up on or around Prior Street. Wellness Group. He soon started volunteering around Attendees admired Albert’s CNH, then located in a small volunteer awards, on display at storefront on Kingsway. Over the celebration. They included the years, Albert volunteered in increasing amounts until he CNH volunteer certificates for every year since 1993, the 2004 eventually spent part of every day, seven days at week at CNH. Association of Neighbourhood Houses Good Neighbour Award and the 2010 United Way Former CNH president Bill W.J. VanDusen Community McMichael, who served as Service Award for remarkable master of ceremonies for commitment and dedication to the celebration and even volunteerism. played Amazing Grace on the bagpipes, noted Albert’s