Eulogy given at funeral mass: I would like to begin by thanking everyone for being here today and spending time with our family to remember and honor our Dad. As I stand here I see family and friends, some of whom have traveled great distances to be here, and I am both humbled and impressed at how much he must have touched your lives. Dad lived a good life, and though he suffered through many sorrows and losses, he always managed to reinvent himself and move on. Over the years we’ve heard so many times, “your dad is one of the nicest people I’ve ever met”.And it’s true, he was. He respected and cherished his friends and family, and enjoyed every minute of the time that he spent with us, and would find any excuse to “make a party”. (He’s probably upset that he’s missing this one.) Our father worked hard his entire life. He had a number of different jobs, but no matter what he did, he put his heart and soul into it. He had a strong work ethic. This is one of the greatest qualities that he taught us. Whether it was at his job in the clothing line, the construction industry; at our home cutting down trees, building concrete decks (on the second floor), building the docks at the boat club (at the age of 80), or as we were growing up teaching us our multiplication tables, how to drive a stick shift, or how to change the gas filter on our cars, my father always put in 100%. He taught us to “do it right, or do it over” Dad also enjoyed music and was an excellent mandolin player. Some of my earliest memories as a child are waking up on Sunday mornings to see him sitting on the edge of his the bed, playing all the old Italian songs, and the popular songs of the 40’s on his mandolin. (Although, at the end of each session, his famous words were “This mandolin is out of tune”) I will never forget all of the time we spent together, even though the last few years were very tough for him, his quick wit and hilarious sense of humor would always lighten up the moment. I am very appreciative of having had so many years to share, and although I will miss him dearly, I will always be thankful for the influence he had on my life, and the lasting memories that will be in my heart forever. And if you are here today, that means that he touched your life in some way, and that you will miss him dearly, but please know that he loved and respected all of you, and he is now with our mom and brother, looking down on us, and so proud and grateful to be so honored by all of you today. Thank you for being here with us.