Christine Saini

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Christine Saini is a well known organist in North Bay and a cheerful and hardworking volunteer for the Ladies Auxiliary of the Davedi Club.

Christine’s Italian connections come though her father’s side of the family. Tony Saini’s mother (Amelia nee Cundari) was one of 16 siblings in a second-generation Italian/Canadian family originally from Cosenza, Calabria. Christine’s grandfather, Michael Saini came from Italy at the age of 14 from Pisterzo, near Rome and there is some mystery around his name. Perhaps like many other immigrants to the new world his name was garbled by non-Italian speaking officials at the point of entry.

Christine is a magnificent auntie and godmother to Patrick, Leah and Nicola (parents Michael Saini and Becky nee Truchon) and to Luca (parents Marc Saini and Serena nee Vandenburg). She spends time with them when she can and loves to help with homework assignments. One of the major family projects over the last 10 years has been fundraising for the Canadian Cancer Society. This has involved the children, their parents and Christine’s close family in North Bay, father Tony Saini, Aunt Lucy Saini and Aunt Mary Saini.

They formed a team called “Claire’s Angels” in memory of Christine’s mother who lost her life to Breast Cancer at the age of 39. Through participation first in the Toronto 60k walk Weekend to end Breast Cancer and later through North Bay’s Relay for Life and CIBC Run for the Cure, Clare’s Angels team has raised over $65,000 through garage sales, spaghetti dinners, and sales of Aunt Mary’s wonderful Italian spaghetti sauce and Italian pastries….and of course through the walk itself. It’s an emotional and rewarding experience to be involved in.

Music is near and dear to Christine’s heart. She graduated from Laurentian University with a Bachelor of Arts with a concentration in Music, after studying organ at the age of 13 at the Pro Cathedral of the Assumption, North Bay. She still plays the magnificent 3 manual Casavant pipe organ occasionally on request, but her weekly long-term responsibilities are at Omond Memorial United Church where she has been Music Director for 24 years and also at two masses with the choir at Saint Peter the Apostle Roman Catholic Church.

As a third generation Canadian/Italian Christine is reconnecting to her heritage through membership in the Davedi Club. She values the companionship and fellowship of the Lady members and supports their efforts as Treasurer at the Ladies events. Thanks Christine for being such an “organised” volunteer!

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