1922
Benjamin
2016
Benjamin Lariccia
January 6, 1922 — September 5, 2016
WARREN - Benjamin "Ben" J. Lariccia, 94, died Monday at Shepherd of the Valley in Warren, after a hard fought illness.
He was a member of Blessed Sacrament Parish in Warren.
The son of Joseph Lariccia and Lucia Bisceglia, Ben was born in 1922, at Thorn Hill, on the Lariccia Brothers' truck farm outside Youngstown.
As a young man, he worked at the family grocery store on E. Rayen Avenue in Youngstown. After graduation from East High School, he completed machinist training at Choffin Vocational School. Ben was hired as an apprentice machinist by Youngstown Foundry and Machine company, where he worked for thirty years. For a short period after, he was employed by General Fire Proofing.
Always interested in industrial design, he was the inventor of several products for the home. Equally skilled in the kitchen as in the machine shop, Ben loved cooking delicious food and baking homemade breads for friends and family.
Ben was a veteran of World War II, having served in the U.S. Army's 30th Division. He was awarded several medals, including the Purple Heart. Ben first saw combat in the multi-day invasion of Normandy. Subsequent action took him through France, Belgium, and ultimately to Germany, where he fought in the Battle of the Bulge. His division participated in the historic meeting of the United States and Soviet Armies at the River Elbe, a key event leading to the surrender of Germany, several days later.
He lost his first wife, Frances Mendozzi, after 65 years of marriage in 2009.
He is survived by his second wife, Mona Raybuck Devlin, whom he married in 2010; his children, Ben Lariccia Jr. of Philadelphia, Janet Cook Smith (Harry Smith) of Sparrows Point, Md. and Luanne Castor (Joseph Castor) of Girard; his sisters, Concetta Lariccia of Columbiana and Amelia Marinelli of Poland; sisters-in-law Norma Mendozzi Popio of Poland and Jane De Mario Mendozzi of Struthers; six grandchildren, Jeremy (Terri Davenport), Jason, Matthew Cook (Tiffany Butler), Michelle Cook Njoku (Frederick Njoku) and Joseph Castor Jr and Angela Castor; and seven great-grandchildren, Joshua Matthew Cook, Dominic, Anthony and Zoe Njoku and Anthony, Katelyn and Allison Cook.
In addition to his parents, Ben was predeceased by sisters Philomela Vargo and Antoinette Cafaro; and brother Michael E. Lariccia.
Family and friends may call Friday from 10 to 10:45 a.m. at Blessed Sacrament Church in Warren, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donations be made to Hospice of the Valley, 5190 Market St. Boardman, OH 44512.
Professional arrangements are being handled by the Higgins-Reardon Funeral Homes, Austintown Chapel.
Visit www.higgins-reardon.com to send condolences to the family.
He was a member of Blessed Sacrament Parish in Warren.
The son of Joseph Lariccia and Lucia Bisceglia, Ben was born in 1922, at Thorn Hill, on the Lariccia Brothers' truck farm outside Youngstown.
As a young man, he worked at the family grocery store on E. Rayen Avenue in Youngstown. After graduation from East High School, he completed machinist training at Choffin Vocational School. Ben was hired as an apprentice machinist by Youngstown Foundry and Machine company, where he worked for thirty years. For a short period after, he was employed by General Fire Proofing.
Always interested in industrial design, he was the inventor of several products for the home. Equally skilled in the kitchen as in the machine shop, Ben loved cooking delicious food and baking homemade breads for friends and family.
Ben was a veteran of World War II, having served in the U.S. Army's 30th Division. He was awarded several medals, including the Purple Heart. Ben first saw combat in the multi-day invasion of Normandy. Subsequent action took him through France, Belgium, and ultimately to Germany, where he fought in the Battle of the Bulge. His division participated in the historic meeting of the United States and Soviet Armies at the River Elbe, a key event leading to the surrender of Germany, several days later.
He lost his first wife, Frances Mendozzi, after 65 years of marriage in 2009.
He is survived by his second wife, Mona Raybuck Devlin, whom he married in 2010; his children, Ben Lariccia Jr. of Philadelphia, Janet Cook Smith (Harry Smith) of Sparrows Point, Md. and Luanne Castor (Joseph Castor) of Girard; his sisters, Concetta Lariccia of Columbiana and Amelia Marinelli of Poland; sisters-in-law Norma Mendozzi Popio of Poland and Jane De Mario Mendozzi of Struthers; six grandchildren, Jeremy (Terri Davenport), Jason, Matthew Cook (Tiffany Butler), Michelle Cook Njoku (Frederick Njoku) and Joseph Castor Jr and Angela Castor; and seven great-grandchildren, Joshua Matthew Cook, Dominic, Anthony and Zoe Njoku and Anthony, Katelyn and Allison Cook.
In addition to his parents, Ben was predeceased by sisters Philomela Vargo and Antoinette Cafaro; and brother Michael E. Lariccia.
Family and friends may call Friday from 10 to 10:45 a.m. at Blessed Sacrament Church in Warren, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donations be made to Hospice of the Valley, 5190 Market St. Boardman, OH 44512.
Professional arrangements are being handled by the Higgins-Reardon Funeral Homes, Austintown Chapel.
Visit www.higgins-reardon.com to send condolences to the family.
Mass of Christian Burial
SEP 9. 11:00 AM
Blessed Sacrament Church
Reeves Rd.
Warren, OH, US
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Benjamin Lariccia, please visit our flower store.
Guestbook
Visits: 1
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the
Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors