Adrian Resta

RESTA

Adrian Resta passed away quietly with his wife Thelma and family by his side on December 24, 2019 at the age of 94 years.

Adrian was born in Villa d’Tirano Italy on February 27, 1925. He was the first child of Felix and Sylvia Resta. His Father came to Canada in 1924 and worked in the coal mines and then in a brick factory in British Columbia. Adrian’s mother needed to be with her husband and she and 9-month-old Adrian came across to North America on a ship and then by land to British Columbia. The family lived in Nanaimo for 4 years then decided to come to Alberta where Felix had a brother and sister living on a farm West of Rimbey. They settled on a farm too.

Making a living was hard work, sweat and tears. When Adrian was old enough, he helped his father brushing land, picking rocks and roots and he learned to drive horses, plowing fields, seeding grain and harvesting. Life was not easy. Adrian was strong and a good worker. In his late teens and early twenties, he worked in a sawmill in the Winter West and North of Medicine Lake. He came home in the Spring and helped his father get the fields worked and seeded. Then there was hay to cut and stack, then in the Fall harvesting, cutting grain with a binder and horses, stooking the bundles and a neighbour came with his threshing machine and got the grain into bins.

The years quickly went by and in November 1950 he married Thelma Webb. That summer he built a house for him and Thelma. It was the warmest house in the area because he insulated the walls. In the fall of 1952, a Pastor from the Church of the Nazarene visited us and explained to us how to ask the Lord into our hearts, read from the bible and prayed with us. Our lives with the blessing of the Lord made a wonderful change in the way we were living and thinking. From that day on we started living our lives for the Lord. Adrian often said, “God is in charge” and so he was and still is to this day. Adrian and Thelma lived on the farm for 40 years then decided to leave the farm and move to Rimbey, leaving the farm and work behind. They have enjoyed the town life.

In April of 2018 Adrian needed hospital and nursing care. He has been well cared for and our family appreciates the good care he has received at the Rimbey Hospital Extended Care, by the nurses, staff and doctors. Adrian has a very faithful friend, Jim Bend who has visited him nearly every day. Our family thanks Jim for his faithfulness.

Adrian is survived by his loving wife of 69 years Thelma, his two daughters Patricia Anne (Augie) Kooistra of Washington, USA, Sherry Dawn (Randy) Orr of Blackfalds and one son Brian Anthony (Connie) of Pigeon Lake, his sister of Gloria Vallette of Edmonton, brother Bruno (Jim) Phyllis of Carstairs, 9 grandchildren and 19 great grandchildren. He was predeceased by his brother Silvio, sister-in-law Rilda and brother-in-law Wally

Adrian leaves behind many special friends. When he went to shop in the Rimbey stores the staff would say “Hello Adrian”. The Hospital staff always said, “Hello Adrian”. When he enters Heavens Gates, God and Jesus and the Angels will say “Welcome Home Adrian”.

I will say of the Lord “He is my refuge and my fortress, My God in him I will trust”

 “For he shall give his Angels charge over you to keep you in all your ways”

                                                                                                       Psalm 91, verses 2&11

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