CIANCONE, Mario Robert Basilio

April 26, 1941 — September 7, 2025

After a courageous 20-year battle with cancer, Mario Ciancone passed away peacefully, surrounded by his loving family, on Sunday, September 7, 2025.

Mario was predeceased by his father, Alec Ciancone; mother, Laura Ciancone; and sisters, Gloria Ghini & Vilma Vujich.

Mario will be dearly missed by his loving wife of 63 years, Berbie; their children, Mark Ciancone (Dorothy), Cydnee (Brad) Knorr, & Bart Ciancone; grandsons, Brycen Knorr & Jeran Knorr (Olivia), and granddaughters, Laura Ciancone (Connor) & Lia Ciancone (Pete); and many nephews, nieces, cousins, and countless friends.

Mario was born on April 26, 1941, in Kelowna, BC and was raised in the North end of Kelowna.

Mario’s long-term career at Calona Wines began at the age of 15, working side by side with his dad. He worked at the Winery for 39 years and retired at the age of 54.

While working for the winery, Mario enjoyed being an entrepreneur. Mario owned a logging truck, rented out video games, built houses, was a Sprint Car promoter, built commercial buildings, and much more.

Mario loved sports – football, baseball, hockey, and fishing. In his earlier days he waterskied, played baseball, and played & coached hockey.

Mario and his good friends, Mel, Joe, Murray, Rex, Andy, Brian, Kenny, & Bert and many more friends met for over 50 years at the A&W on Gordon Drive, and later on, at the DQ. They would get together every morning, after work and sometimes after dinner to discuss a variety of topics – nothing too serious – politics, the stock market, gardening, the stock market, the weather, the stock market, etc. He loved his friends, and they were all very important to him.

Mario met the love of his life, Berbie, in 1961. Driving down Bernard Avenue, Mario spotted Berbie in her apartment window – and the rest is history. They were married for 63 years. Together they loved to travel the world, Mexico, Australia, Phoenix, California, Costa Rica, and many more wonderful places. Mario was known as the Italian who wore the European Men’s style of a swimsuit. Tanned and fit, no one wore a Speedo like Mario. They also thoroughly enjoyed cruising to different areas around the globe. No matter where they travelled, Mario and Berbie made friends.

One of Mario’s favourite traditions every year was to go Pig out in the Park in Spokane, Washington on Labour Day weekend. Mario, Berbie, Brad, Cydnee, Mark, Dorothy, and sometimes extended family and friends would head down to Spokane. So many weekends filled with music, food, and laughter. A recurring theme in Mario and Berbie’s life.

And although they travelled extensively, they loved being at home with the family. Sunday night dinners and family get-togethers were the most important thing to Mario. Many times it included extended family and lots of friends. For many years on their farm, they would throw a Lobster feast and many BBQs. Mario and Berbie always knew how to throw a Party!

Mario loved to go for long drives with family and friends and enjoyed stopping at a small little hole-in-the-wall for lunch. It was always an adventure!

Mario also had a love and passion for gardening. Not only in his own backyard, but in many different backyards – wherever he could find a place to grow a vegetable garden. Mario always had an abundance of vegetables to share with family, friends, and neighbours. He grew the best tomatoes and peppers, and he was known for his great hot sauce.

Every year, Mario looked forward to getting the big pots out to make his famous pasta sauce – with many helping hands over the years. If you were on the assembly line and if you did something wrong, Mario was there to steer you in the right direction. It was always a 2-day event in late September and the family always looked forward to it.

Family was everything to Mario – his wife, children and grand children were his biggest accomplishment in life. He was loved by so many others that had crossed paths with him, no matter where he went in this world.

We will miss his great sense of humour, reminiscing about the past, discussions on politics and the state of the world, gardening together & making sauce together, long drives, and so many other adventures; but we are so glad we have memories upon memories of our time with Mario – husband, dad, Nonno, friend – memories that will last a lifetime

We would like to thank Mario’s family doctor Dr. Thomson, oncologist, Dr. Finch, and the team at the Cancer Clinic for their great care over the years. Thank you, too, to the nurses and doctors who helped Mario during his final days.

A Celebration of Life will be held for family and close friends at a later date.

If you wish to send a condolence, post photos, or share a memory, please scroll down the page to the area call “Condolences”.