A bride burst into tears of happiness when her 95-year-old grandfather, who had made a promise he’d be at her wedding day, traveled across the country to make the occasion.
Mara Malozewski shares an incredibly close bond with her nonno Mario Pagnotta.
She moved across Canada to Vancouver four years ago, and in weighing up whether she should have her wedding back in Toronto, she ultimately decided she’d like friends and family to experience the place she now calls home.
Every week Mara would call her grandparents, but unfortunately, in May 2024, Mario’s wife, Rosina, passed away.
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Rosina was the initial driving force behind her and Mario heading to their granddaughter’s big day, and following her passing, despite his age Mario committed to fulfilling Rosina’s wishes whatever it took.
So, on the wedding weekend, Mara was told by her sister, Kaela, someone special had arrived – and the bride-to-be immediately came running out in tears at the sight of her grandfather.
At the wedding itself, on August 3 in Harrison Hot Springs, British Columbia, Mario went above and beyond to get around the venue with his walker, soak up hugs with Mara’s friends, and even got on the dance floor.
The 95-year-old had his wife’s photo beside him during the ceremony and said he would stop grieving for the weekend so he could enjoy the occasion.
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Mara said: “I had been told Nonno had just arrived on site, and I dropped everything to see him.
“He was saying hi to everyone but kept saying I want to see Mara.
“He calls me ‘Marette,’ a sweetened version of my name, and hearing him call for me and seeing the smile on his face just brought me to instant tears, I felt so loved.
“So much genuine happiness, joy, gratitude, and to be honest some relief that the travels went off without a hitch.
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“It broke my heart that my Nonna couldn’t physically be there, but she was present in every way that mattered – and I know she was a big reason Nonno made the trip.
“He had promised me that if he was still around, he would be there, and he kept that promise.
“He said to Kaela that in a few days we could resume grieving, but this weekend was a special and joyous occasion – he was beaming all weekend long.”
