CINELLI, Lorenzo

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On Tuesday, September 29, 2026, the skies opened up, and the heavens welcomed the most handsome angel. After a life filled with love, laughter, and family, our dad, Lorenzo Cinelli, passed away peacefully at the age of 77, surrounded by his loving family who never left his side. He was the most loving husband to our mom, Anna Cinelli, who predeceased him, and a devoted father and father-in-law to Maria (Sam), Gina, Lou (Jenn), Donna (Matthew), and Gianni. He was the treasured Nonno to Danielle, Alexander, Evan, Ben, and Presley.

He was predeceased by his parents, Luigi and Maria Cinelli, and his siblings, the late Nicoletta Silvano (the late Anibale) and the late Gianfranco (survived by his wife, Rita). He is survived by his siblings, Vince and Luciana Agresta (Domingo), and by his beloved best friend and brother-in-law, Mariano Bei. He was a wonderful uncle to many nieces and nephews who loved him dearly. We can’t forget to mention his adored “fur grandbabies”, Blanche, Molson, Mio, Bello, Rocco, Tango, Trippy, Niko, Gracie, Daisy, and Frankie.

Our dad was the second child born to Luigi and Maria Cinelli on August 24, 1949, in Guglionesi, Campobasso, Italy. In 1969, he left his home in Italy and came to Canada with hopes, dreams, and the drive to build a life for himself. He arrived in a new country as an immigrant, bringing with him the strength, work ethic, and pride that would shape the man he would become.

In 1972, our dad married the love of his life, our Mom. Together, they built a beautiful family with five children. His children were his life. Everything he did, every long day he worked, and every sacrifice he made was rooted in his immeasurable love for his family and his unwavering desire to make sure we never went without.

Our dad began his career as a mechanic and spent nearly 25 years working for Canadian Tire. He then took an even bigger leap, starting a business of his own, which he named Bluewater Auto Repair & Lube Centre. It was a courageous move, and he poured his heart into making it successful. He worked tirelessly, day after day and year after year, because providing for his family mattered most to him. His hard work allowed our Mom to stay home with us, giving our family a strong foundation and a childhood filled with her love and presence.

He found ways to include us in the business whenever he could, giving us the opportunity to work alongside him, learn from him, and share in what he and our Mom had built together. He was incredibly proud of his business and the life and legacy it created for our family. He wanted us to have everything we needed, and giving came naturally to him. He was generous to a fault, always thinking of others and looking for ways to help. Even as we grew older, our dad never stopped feeling responsible for taking care of us.

That need to take care of us showed up in the simplest ways. You could never leave our dad’s house empty-handed. Very often, you left with a few extra bottles of olive oil and jars of sauce. He loved buying everything in bulk just to make sure everyone had some. It was simply his way of saying, “I love you so much.”

And then there were the Sunday steak dinners. Growing up, Sunday meant steak, and it was always a T-bone. Our dad proudly cooked the steaks for us on the BBQ while our Mom took care of the rest. He loved bringing his family together around the table. It was always a feast, and more often than not, it ended with him falling asleep at the table.

Our dad believed his children should know how to do things for themselves. He made sure we learned early, too. He taught us all to drive at a very young age, long before some of us probably should have been behind the wheel. He loved getting all of us in the car and heading out for a car ride, sometimes to a random destination and other times along the same familiar route through Canatara and under the bridge. It is a route we still follow today with our own families, carrying on a tradition that he started.

Every time we visited our dad's house, when it was time to leave, he would stand at the door or in the driveway and wave goodbye, continuing to wave until we were completely out of sight. If you have ever had someone stand there and wave until you drove away, then you know exactly what that kind of love feels like. That was our dad.

Our dad loved his Italian roots deeply, and music was a huge part of his everyday life. The house was rarely quiet, filled with Roy Orbison, Elvis Presley, and the ever-so-special Italian Riviera music that he loved so much. He would sing, dance, and make sure everyone around him enjoyed the music too. These moments captured the joy and playfulness that made him so special.

One of our dad’s most cherished friendships was with Mariano Bei. Although they were brothers-in-law, from the very beginning they shared a bond that felt more like brothers. Over the years, they shared countless hours, surrounded by their friends, talking, laughing, and enjoying life. Their daily 6 p.m. coffee visits at Tim Hortons became a special part of his routine and something he looked forward to each day. The friendship, laughter, and connection they shared were truly special and brought so much joy to his life.

Our dad’s grandchildren were everything to him. They were his lifeline. He took enormous pride in watching each of them grow and cherished every opportunity to spend time with them. He loved sharing his knowledge and experiences, especially teaching them how to fix cars, taking them out for a meal, going for a drive, or attending a car show. He was always ready with a story, a lesson, or some kind of ridiculous joke that would have everyone laughing until they couldn’t catch their breath. His grandchildren even knew his coffee routine and would often pop in to join him and his friends. These little moments meant so much to him. They all knew just how much their Nonno loved them.

Dad, life will never feel the same without you here. We don’t know how we will carry on without you because you were such a big part of our lives and someone we could always lean on. We could turn to you for advice, for help, or simply because we needed our dad, knowing that no matter the time or situation, we could count on you.

Our dad had a tough exterior, but underneath it was a heart full of love. You were our greatest protector and our safe place. You gave us comfort and strength, and somehow, knowing you were there always made life a little easier.

We will miss you more than words could ever explain. We will carry your stories, your laughter, your lessons, and everything you gave us in our hearts for the rest of our lives.

We love you more,

All of your children,

XO

We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to the Telemetry and Palliative Care teams at Bluewater Health, as well as the team at University Hospital in London. The care, compassion, and attention they gave to our dad and our family during such a difficult time meant everything to us.

Friends and family will be received on Monday, October 5, 2026, at Smith Funeral Home, 1576 London Line, Sarnia, with visitation beginning at 11:00 a.m. followed by a funeral service at 1:00 p.m.

Sympathy may be expressed through donations to Noelle’s Gift or The Sarnia and District Humane Society (cheques only at the funeral home please). Arrangements entrusted to Smith Funeral Home, 1576 London Line, Sarnia.