Osmar A. Toniolo

Osmar A. Toniolo, 88, went to be with his heavenly father, Sunday, November 12, 2023, after a long battle with Parkinsons. Osmar, most commonly known as “Ozzie”, was the son of Eurania Toniolo. He had no siblings. Osmar was born in La Spezia in the Liguria region of Italy, on August 21, 1935. Osmar was preceded in death by his mother, Eurania and beloved wife, Carmela M. Bisbano-Toniolo. From a humble beginning as a young boy, of 9 years old, in La Spezia, during WWII, he had firsthand interaction with both the American and German soldiers, whom he befriended and received provisions. They would have him sweep floors in return for food for his family. Ozzie had many childhood friends that he kept in touch with through the years. He loved to cliff dive and swim in the Ligurian Sea. He also was a competitive cyclist in the Cinque Terre region and its surroundings. He loved to share his stories from back in that time and could paint a vivid picture while telling his tales. As he became a young man, he apprenticed in a bakery in his hometown. He learned the tricks of the trade but, more than that, he discovered he had a passion for baking and creating with dough and became a very talented cake decorator. In 1958, at a mere 23 years old, he decided it was time for a new and exciting adventure. He was off to America. Coming into a country and a culture he knew little about. Ozzie braved the terrain, worked hard and bought a sharp little sports car. He was handsome, young, eager to work and learn. Full of hope and faith, Osmar never met a stranger, and that quality helped him get established. Getting a tip from one of his friends, he went calling on Carmela Marie Bisbano. She became the love of his life, and they were married on September 24, 1960. They loved each other dearly, until beloved Carmela was taken from us prematurely at a young age of 51 to a brain aneurysm. This left a huge hole in his spirit. Ozzie and Caremla had three children, Steven M. (Anna) Toniolo, Gregory J. Toniolo, and Celeste M. Malin; nine grandchildren, Steven M. (Caroline) Toniolo, Ryan M. (Haley) Toniolo, Gregory (Lisa) Toniolo, Julia Toniolo (Carson DuPaul), Luciano Toniolo, Sergio Toniolo, Agostino Toniolo, Carmela Malin, and Nicole (Davide) Laing; and nine great-grandchildren, Grier Toniolo, Steven M. (Tripp) Toniolo III, Olivia Toniolo, Talion Toniolo, Isabella Toniolo, Devin Toniolo, Evin Toniolo, Alieghna Toniolo, and Santino DuPaul. The young family, Ozzie, Carmela and the three children moved around PA a bit. Learning along the way, he worked his way up from assistant in the bakeries to owning several bakeries of his own. All the while honing his baking and decorating skills. Many of his masterpieces blessed wedding celebrations for many years. He was very passionate about his work, cookies, cakes, bread, and pastries. He had mastered it all. Looking for a change, he bought a pizzeria and learned that trade. He involved his family in each of his businesses. After the sudden death of his wife, Carmela M. Bisbano Toniolo, Ozzie sold his interests in his businesses and retired to Florence, SC, where he and son, Gregory, had a bakery for a short time and later worked part time baking bread at Stefano’s. Many people in Florence still fondly remember Ozzie delivering fresh bread to both his new and old friends. Ozzie loved his family, swimming, dancing, NASCAR, soccer, creating art from his baked goods, gardening, cycling, the Philadelphia Eagles, Jesus and most of all he loved people. Ozzie was diagnosed with Parkinsons and started to lose mobility. His doctor accredited the slow progression to his athleticism throughout his life. He battled fiercely for over 20 years. He picked up the art of wine making in his later years. Ozzie was blessed to meet and hold each of his nine great-grandchildren and has left a beautiful legacy. We are grateful for the love and care that his daughter, Celeste, gave him in these later years, taking on the role of primary caregiver. Memorials may be made to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research at michaeljfox.org or Junebugs Care at JunebugsCare.org/donate. A memorial service will be held at 4:00 PM, on Monday, November 20, 2023, at the Church of Sandhurst. Ozzie will find his resting place next to his cherished Carmela at Gethsemane Cemetery-Mausoleum in PA. Please sign the Guest Book for the family at www.stoudenmiredowling.com.