Surrounded by love and with her family at her side, Nila passed away on Feb. 12th. She was born on July 3rd, 1927, in San Giorgio della Richinvelda, Italy. Nila devoted herself to service, bringing beauty and growth to everything she touched—especially through her church community and the Famee Furlane. She was predeceased by her husband, Dino, and her daughter, Liliana. She is survived by her son, Ric and his partner, Shelly, as well as many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, cousins, and extended family. In her gentle way, Nila's love of community and her faith will continue to inspire us all.

Eulogy for Mom

I’ll miss you in so many ways; I should have said this to you.

Your laughter that lit up every room.

Your songs, you sang that lifted our hearts and carried us through the hardest days.

Your caring hands that held us tight.

And your amazing cooking—meals that always felt like a warm hug.

Your home was always open.

There was always room at your table.

Family, friends, neighbors

Everyone was welcome to come, sit, eat, and feel that special warmth we all bathed in.

Everything you did, you did with care.

Whether you were cooking for the family or preparing a festa for the Famee, it was never just about the food.

It was about love.

It was about bringing people together.

Sunday dinners were your masterpiece.

And every month, at that dinner table, whoever’s birthday it was, chose the meal—your love made it their treat.

The table was beautifully set, everything laid out, and we arrived and enjoyed the atmosphere you created.

What we didn’t realize at the time was that you had spent days preparing.

And when the meal was over, we didn’t lift a finger; you wouldn’t even let us help with the cleanup.

You wanted us to stay at the table, to talk, to laugh, to enjoy being together.

We would leave… and you did it all.

Looking back, I regret that I didn’t learn more from you

How you planned, how you cooked and baked,

How do you manage to put so much love into everything you make?

Whenever one of the kids asked for a recipe, you would smile and say,

“Oh, it’s just a little bit of this… and a little bit of that.”

And somehow, it always turned out amazing.

But now I understand.

The secret ingredient wasn’t written down.

The secret was you.

Your love.

Your care.

Your joy in giving to others.

Mom, your table may be quiet now,

but the love you created lives on in all of us.

And if we can share even a little bit of that warmth with others

a little bit of this and a little bit of that,

then your love will keep bringing people together for years to come.

We will miss you, Mom, Nonna

And we will carry your love with us… always.

A church service will be held at St. Helen’s Parish, 3860 Triumph St, Burnaby, BC, on February 26, 2026, at 10:00 am.

Followed by a Burial Service at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, approx. 12;00

A celebration of Nila's life will follow the Church and burial service at
 the Famee Furlani Hall, 2605 Pender St., at 1:30

In place of flowers, Nila requested that donations be made to the following organizations she held close to her heart.

Notre Dame Alumni Foundation is currently located at 2880 Venables Street, Vancouver, British Columbia. The funds are to be used to set up an annual memorial award, “The Lana Tesan Community Spirit Award”. https://my.charitableimpact.com/groups/the-lana-tesan-spirit-of-community-award-fund

L'Arche Greater Vancouver, https://larchevancouver.org/support-us/make-a-donation/?type=single. We believe in the power of shared living. Our approach is simple yet profound: By living, working, and celebrating together, we create spaces where everyone’s unique gifts are recognized, nurtured, and celebrated. For many, this way of life is not only enriching but life-changing.