In Memoriam: Donato Labriola

From Lacerenza Funeral Home.

Donato Labriola passed away peacefully on Saturday, February 27, 2016, just two months short of his 100th birthday.

He was born on April 23, 1916 to the late Canio and Teresa-Martino Labriola in Ripacandida Potenza, Italy.

He was united in marriage to Addolorata Gabriele at Chiesa Madre and they would remain married for 63 years until her death on November 28 , 2002.

Donato served in the Royal Italian Army for 8 years in the campaigns of North Africa, the Balkans and the Iberian Peninsula. After the war, he returned to Ripacandida where he and Addolorata raised three daughters together. During this time he worked in agriculture for nearly 25 years.

In 1967 at the age of 51 he moved with his wife and youngest daughter to the US and settled in Greenwich.

He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather whose happiest and proudest moments were spent with his family. He will always be remembered as the strong patriarch of his family who was passionate with his convictions. Having spent nearly 50 years in the United States he was very patriotic and ever grateful to be living the American dream. He was an avid gardener who was always generous with his bountiful harvest.

He is survived by three daughters Teresa (Michele) Larossa, Antonietta Labriola and Lucia (Tomasso) LaRocca, along with 9 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by three sisters, Teresa Santomauro, Carmela Santarsiere, Ida Labriola and a brother Pasquale Labriola.

He will live on in the hearts, minds and lives of his family and everyone that he touched.

Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, March 2, at the Lacerenza Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 8 Schuyler Avenue, Stamford. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. on Thursday, March 3, at St. Catherine of Siena Church, Riverside. Entombment will follow at St. Mary's Cemetery, Greenwich.