Mario Chirico Sr.

June 1, 1940 – October 23, 2026

An extraordinary life, built with love.

In his late teens, Mario left Italy and made his way to Canada, carrying with him the courage to start a new life and, no doubt, dreams of what that life might become. He spent a short time in Toronto before discovering Beamsville, a small town in Niagara that would change the course of his life. It was there that he met Valentina, the woman who would become his wife, and his home for the next 66 years.

Mario was a barber by trade, but an entrepreneur at heart. He had a natural instinct for opportunity and a restless spirit that was always looking for the next adventure. After investing in an apartment building in Beamsville, he added a jewellery and gift shop, proving early on that he was never one to settle for just one idea. Together, Mario and Valentina built a life, a business, and a family, raising four children along the way.

In 1980, Mario took another big chance. He moved his family to Aylmer and opened Mar-Val Jewellers, a name that brought together Mario and Valentina and became so much more than a business.The store was built on hard work, long days, and the belief that if you were going to do something, you did it together. Family wasn’t simply part of the business; family was the business.

But even four walls and a successful jewellery store couldn’t contain Mario for long. Somewhere between the episodes of This Old House and a curious mind, a new passion took hold. Mario discovered the world of property development and he approached it with the same enthusiasm that had carried him through every chapter of his life. As you drive through Aylmer today, you can see pieces of Mario’s legacy in the houses and neighbourhoods he helped create.

Then, at 60, Mario did what many people might consider retiring from work. Mario, of course, had other ideas. He returned to his first trade, barbering, and spent another 26 years behind the chair, cutting, massaging and styling hair six days a week. Perhaps there was something about the familiar rhythm of the barbershop, the conversations, and the people that kept him coming back. Or perhaps Mario simply wasn’t built for sitting still. Either way, he continued doing what he knew best: working, connecting with people, and keeping busy on his own terms.

For all his ventures, accomplishments, and endless projects, Mario’s greatest achievement was the family. He was a husband for 66 years, a father to four children, and a Nonno whose pride and joy were his six grandchildren: Tia, Austin, Erica, Matteo, Marissa, and Julia.

Mario never missed a hockey or soccer game. No matter how busy life was, he made time to be there, cheering from the sidelines and in the stands. His grandchildren will remember a Nonno who was there for the big moments and the ordinary ones, too — the moments that, with time, become the most precious memories of all.

Mario leaves behind his wife, Valentina (DiLettera); his children, Mario Jr. (Morena) of London, Gino (Mopsy) of Baton Rouge, Anna (Rob) of Mossley, and Joey (Lisa) of Lambeth. 

Mario’s life was a story of taking chances, starting something new when the spirit moved him, and never losing his appetite for the next chapter. He crossed an ocean to begin again, built businesses and spent decades doing work he loved. But the most meaningful things were a family rooted in love, and memories that will be treasured long after the tools are put away and the barbershop chair sits empty.

A funeral mass and celebration of life will be held October 27. Cremation has taken place and interment will follow at a later date. If desired, donations in Mario’s memory can be made to the Heart & Stroke Foundation.