Obituary of Felix A. Lombardi, Jr.

Felix A. Lombardi, Jr.,passed away in peace on Sunday, January 4, 2015, in the comfort of his home surrounded by his family in Roswell, New Mexico. Felix was 92, being born May 31, 1922,to Felix A. Lombardi, Sr. and Nora Carmosino Lombardi in Lewiston, New York. He was preceded in death by his wife, Nellie;his parents; one brother,Sebastian Lombardi; three sisters, Ida Lombardi Lewis, Adelaide Lombardi Baker and Santina Lombardi James; and his beloved son, Gene Robert Lombardi.Survivors include his daughter, Sharon Lombardi and her husband Michael S. Richardson of Roswell; a son, Felix Allen Lombardi and his wife, Susan of San Francisco. In Lewiston, Felix is survived by three sisters, Virginia Lombardi Lass, Mildred Lombardi Terrameo and Mary Lombardi Hibbard; one brother, James Lombardi; and many nieces and nephews. Felix married his true love, Nellie, on December 23, 1942, in New Port, Rhode Island. They enjoyed a wonderful, devoted life together for more than 64 years, committed to all life's challenges, adventures and joys. Felix served on the U.S.S. destroyer Heywood L. Edwards DD 663 during WWII and received the Navy unit citations for the battles of Saipan-Tinian, Peleliu, Leyte, Surigao Strait, Luzon, Iwo Jima and Okinawa. Felix earned many medals including WWII Victory Metal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, China War Memorial Medal, American Campaign Medal, Navy Occupation Service Medal (Asia) and several Good Conduct Medals. In service to his nation during the war in the South Pacific, there were two 13-month periods in which he did not leave the ship. Felix was a patriotic American and after 28 years of service in the Navy, he returned to work on the family dairy farm in Lewiston, NY. This was a special place for him and his family, where his children grew up on the farm surrounded by their Lombardi grandparents and many aunts, uncles and cousins. In a farming accident in 1974 Felix lost his right leg,then suffered an even worst blow when his second son, Gene, was diagnosed with cancer and died several months later. Felix was very proud of Gene,who became an agent in the US Secret Service and special agent in the US State Department, guarding two presidents and Henry Kissinger. Felix was an active member of St. Peters Catholic Church in Lewiston,and became a member of Assumption Catholic Church after moving to Roswell. Because of his strong faith in God and love of his family, Felix recovered from the loss of his leg but never quite the loss of his son. Nellie and Felix lived in Lewiston and Ft. Myers, Florida, until 2004, when they moved to Roswell to be close to their daughter, Sharon. Felix lived with Sharon and her husband for the last eight years, where his kindness, wonderful sense of humor and colorful stories will be fondly missed by his family and the friends who loved him. Felix and his family were blessed by the wonderful help of loving caregivers; Sheila, Brandy, Lori and Linda. The time, love, care and support they gave our father will be cherished and will be remembered always. Local arrangements are under the direction of HARDISON FUNERAL HOME, N. Fourth & Ridge Sts., Lewiston. A Mass celebrating Felix's life will be offered on Saturday, May 30, at 10:00 am in St. Peter's RC Church, 600 Center St., Lewiston with the Rev. Msgr. David G. LiPuma officiating. Military Honors will follow at the Church. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Roswell Humane Society, 703 East McGaffey, Roswell, NM 88203; or Lewiston Volunteer Fire Company No.1, P.O. Box 748, Lewiston, NY 14092.