A builder of homes, and a giver

BELOVED husband, generous father, caring grandfather, great friend and a tireless community-orientated man.
Those are but a few things for which Luciano “Charlie” Rossetti will be remembered.
He died on Friday 5 August of endocarditis, an infection of the heart valves or the inner membrane of the heart, aged 75.
His funeral was held at St Patrick’s Church in Pakenham on 11 August. About 400 people were present, including many of Mr Rossetti’s former building apprentices and former Pakenham Shire councillors.
Mr Rossetti was born to Italian immigrants, Lucia and Batista, who built a farm in Kooweerup soon after arriving in Australia.
He attended St John’s Primary School and completed his education, the highest available, at the age of 14. He was dux for the last three years.
With a passion for building, he received his first building contract at the age of 17 to build an extension for his future brother-in-law.
Two years later he started his own business, C. Rossetti Pty Ltd, and went on to build residential and commercial lots throughout Pakenham.
He was also a property developer, starting up many of the developments in the area, and even naming some streets after himself and his family.
Until retirement, he was the longest registered independent master builder in Victoria.
Mr Rossetti was also quick to become involved in the local community.
He was a charter member for the Pakenham Club, co-founder of Pakenham Little Athletics, co-founder of Minibah (Outlook) and helped at the Pakenham Scouts.
He spent 35 years serving Pakenham Aged Care, formerly Pakenham Hospital, as a board member and as president.
Many people would remember Mr Rossetti from his time spent as a councillor for the Pakenham Shire Council between 1983 and 1992, serving as mayor in 1988-89.
He was a board member for the Pakenham Sewerage Authority/Pakenham Water Board for 21 years, board member and chairman of the Necropolis Trust for 13 years and board member and chairman of the Pakenham High School Board.
His son Peter said in his eulogy that Mr Rossetti made substantial donations over a long period of time to organisations, mostly anonymously.
It was those services to the community and local government that earned him a Medal of the Order of Australia in 2008.
Mr Rossetti leaves behind his wife of 52 years, Rosalie, sons Peter, Martin and Bradley, daughter Ann, daughters-in-law Dennise and Sandra and grandchildren Emily, Christopher, Miranda and David.