Vaughan residents mourn loss of civic leader, tireless seniors advocate

Vaughan residents mourn loss of civic leader, tireless seniors advocate
Isabella Ferrara, president of the Seniors Association of Vaughan Initiative (SAVI), died on Feb. 13.

Yorkreigon.com
Feb. 15, 2017
By Adam Martin-Robbins



Vaughan residents are mourning the loss of a selfless and caring civic leader best known as a tireless advocate for the community’s senior citizens.

Isabella Ferrara, president of the Seniors Association of Vaughan Initiative (SAVI), died on Feb. 13. She was 72.
“It’s hard to accept that someone like her is no longer, she’s done so much for the community,” Regional Councillor Mario Ferri said. “She was the epitome of selflessness.”

Ferri first met Ferrara nearly 15 years ago during the formation of SAVI, an organization that brought Vaughan’s various and diverse seniors groups together under one umbrella to help serve their common interests.

She put her name forward for the leadership and was elected president in 2003. She held the post for the next 14 years

“She provided amazing leadership, great insight and an abundance of energy that kind of motivated everybody to stay involved,” Ferri said. “These groups don’t last too long unless you have people like her who give it life and inspire everybody else to do the same. Providing a higher quality of life for seniors was her mission and whatever it took to make it happen, she did it.”

For Ferrara, who also served as president of the Pine York Seniors Club, helping others was a lifelong passion.

“I have been volunteering since grade school. I remember sock hops in the gym and helping out with events in the library,” she told a reporter back in 2012.

Daniele Zanotti, president and CEO of the United Way Toronto & York Region, described Ferrara as a “consummate civic leader.”

“She was a true Vaughan champion and ambassador,” he said. “Her heart and head and hands were always focused on seniors and the community.”

Although Ferrara was a staunch advocate for seniors, she was also “always willing to find common ground,” Zanotti said.

Ferrara’s efforts to help others did not go unnoticed.

She was awarded an Ontario Seniors Achievement Award in 2011, a Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee medal in 2012 and, last fall, Ferrara was among the first 25 recipients of the Order of Vaughan.

“The City of Vaughan has lost a leader in our community and an unwavering advocate for seniors with the passing of Isabella Ferrara, president of the Seniors Association of Vaughan Initiative (SAVI),” Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua said in a statement issued Wednesday, Feb. 15.

“I offer my sincere condolences to her family and friends at this difficult time”

Ferrara leaves behind her husband of 49 years, Vince, their three children and seven grandchildren.

“Her family life was the centre of everything for her, but the work she did with the seniors was a very close second,” Ferri said.

“She was the kind of person that you wanted to be living next door to because she always looked out for the other person, was always willing to help."

Visitations are scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 16 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. and Friday, Feb. 17 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. and from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Ward Funeral Home, 4671 Hwy. 7, in Woodbridge.

A funeral service will take place Saturday, Feb. 18 at 10 a.m. at Immaculate Conception Parish Woodbridge, 300 Ansley Grove Rd.