Visitors to the farmers’ market at the Peterborough Memorial Centre on Saturday (June 9) were shocked and saddened to learn that one of the market’s most popular and respected vendors has passed away.
Giuseppe “Pino” Bruni of C. Bruni & Sons Farms of Oshawa, died suddenly and unexpectedly on Friday (June 8) at the age of 48.
A regular at both the Saturday market and the Wednesday farmers’ market in downtown Peterborough, as well as various farmers’ markets in Durham Region, Pino is survived by his wife Meredith (chair of the Durham Region Farmers’ Market Association), his daughters Isabella and Julianna, his mother Giuseppina “Pina” Bruni, and his brother Gabe.
Pino was the son of the late Carmine A. Bruni, who first immigrated to Canada in 1957 when he was 12 years old. After working in tobacco fields and picking tomatoes, Carmine returned to Italy in 1968 where he married Pina. The following year, Carmine and Pina came back to Canada where they bought a small farm in Raglan, Ontario.
By 1977, they were selling produce at local farmers’ markets and purchased more property to expand the farm. Carmine’s sons Pino and Gabe eventually became involved in the family business, and continued to operate the farm at 710 Raglan Road East after Carmine passed away in 2012.
After learning of Pino’s passing, many people who have posted condolences to the Bruni family on Facebook describe Pino as “warm”, “generous”, “hard=working”, “kind”, and having a “big heart.”
Visitations takes place at Barnes Memorial Funeral Home Ltd. (5295 Thickson Rd. N., Whitby) on Thursday, June 14th from 2 to 4 p.m. and from 6 to 8 p.m.
A service takes place in the Barnes chapel at 11 a.m. on Friday, June 15th. Pino will be interred at Resurrection Catholic Cemetery in Whitby.
In memory of Pino, the family would appreciate memorial donations to the Heart and Stroke Foundation or the charity of your choice.
Messages of condolence and shared memories can be posted at barnesmemorialfuneralhome.com.
