It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Elieo Della Costa. After a brief battle with cancer, Elieo passed away in his sleep on October 30, 2021, at the Good Samaritan Clearwater Centre in Rocky Mountain House. He was 91 years old.
Elieo was born in Wayne, Alberta on May 8, 1930, to Albino and Maria Della Costa, who had immigrated to Canada from Italy. His father worked in the coal mines around the area — life was hard and they had very little money, but Elieo had many fond memories of growing up there. When he was 17, the family moved to a farm in the Dovercourt area, where Elieo worked on the farm and at Edwards Garage.
In 1953, he met Tove Bonde through mutual friends. They were soon inseparable and got married in 1956. It was a life-long love affair – they were partners in all things and raised their five girls in a home filled with laughter and love. Tove and Elieo worked hard to build their farming operation and, to help make ends meet, Elieo got a job driving school bus to Caroline School. He intended to do it “just until he got on his feet farming”, which of course meant he retired from bus driving 46 years later! But it wasn’t much of a hardship for him — he loved his bus kids and enjoyed catching up on the latest gossip at daily coffees with the other bus drivers.
Any spare time was usually spent camping and hiking in the West Country. Elieo and Tove made two trips across Canada, flying to Toronto to pick up a new school bus and then driving the bus home, camping along the way. The first trip was with a newborn baby and the second with five kids under the age of 12. They also took a few cruises, including to Alaska and through the Panama Canal.
After Tove died in 2017, Elieo remained on the farm. He planted a big garden every year, liked talking to his dog Kelly and watching the birds at his feeders, and drove into town virtually every day for coffee. Earlier this year he moved into the Clearwater Centre, where he enjoyed kibbitzing with the staff and visitors, and being taken out for drives and picnics.
Elieo is lovingly remember by his five daughters, Trina Hobmaier, Michelle (Ray Gauvin), Christine (Scott Rickett), Dianne (Gene Schrader), and Donna Pengelly (Keith), his brother Secondo Della Costa, and Sherry Spoljaric (Paul) who was like another daughter to him. He was predeceased by his wife Tove, son-in-law Mike Hobmaier, parents, sister Marcella Bertagnolli and brother Primo Della Costa. Elieo leaves a legacy of special memories for his grandchildren, Daryl (Abby), Richard (Ashlee), Kelsey (Ryan), Ryan and Will Schrader; Kent (Holly), Landon (Andrea) and Zevon (Meagan) Hobmaier; and Rachel, Jenna and Blain Pengelly. He had 11 great grandchildren.
A get-together to celebrate Elieo’s life will be held at a later date when we can meet without restrictions.

Parkland Funeral Home and Crematorium (Red Deer)

6287 – 67 A Street (Taylor Drive), Red Deer. 403.340.4040.

ONLY LOCALLY OWNED AND OPERATED FUNERAL HOME/CREMATORIUM

IN THE CITY OF RED DEER.

• Date : 2021-11-15
• Location : www.ParklandFuneralHome.com & www.HeartlandFuneralServices.com