Attilio Pugliese

His life began 97 years ago on January 14, 1927 in Marina di Gioiosa, Calabria Italy a small village on the Ionian Sea. His journey of life ended on June 8, 2024 surrounded by his family at his home in Tallmadge, Ohio where he resided for 65 years.

Attilio was a veteran of the Italian Air Force. As a young man job opportunities were not plentiful in the small Italian village after World War II, after marrying Lina Femia, he immigrated to Akron, Ohio in 1951 for a better life. Knowing no English and having very little money he quickly found work as a concrete laborer at D'ALessio Construction. While working on a concrete job he observed a crew of landscape workers from R.B Stout Landscaping. Soon thereafter he applied for a job and was hired as day laborer, promoted to foreman and eventually served as Vice President of R.B Stout Landscaping for 32 years until his retirement in 1989.

He was a lifelong member of Our Lady of Victory Church. For forty years Attilio and Lina loved wintering at their home in Cape Coral, Florida where he would continue his love of gardening and landscaping.

Attilio was a fiercely loyal and devoted husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, brother, uncle, cousin and friend. Family was always at the forefront of his life. He took pride in his children and grandchildren's accomplishments, bragging about them to anyone who would listen. He also enjoyed spending hours around the table with family and friends enjoying a homemade Italian meal that included vegetables and fruits that he grew in this garden. Never missing from the large dinner table were multiply bottles of homemade wine which he would argue was better than anyone else's wine at the table. In addition to his passion for gardening and meticulous landscaping at his homes in Tallmadge and Cape Coral, he loved to read and watch any Cleveland sports teams. He loved telling stories of his adventures growing up in Italy, and socializing with extended family and friends. He will be most remembered for imparting his many pearls of wisdom and living the values of respect, loyalty, love of family.

Attilio is survived by his beloved wife of 73 years, Lina Pugliese (nee Femia); daughters, Maria Tustin of Green, Melina (Raymond Polombi Jr) Pugliese of Jackson Township, Jeanette(Raymond) Carson of New Franklin; son, Frank (Lynn) Pugliese of Charleston, SC; grandchildren, Melissa (Eric) Parker of Macedonia, Jennifer (Matthew) Cullum of Canton MI, Brandon Tustin of Cleveland, Caitlin (Andrew) Woods of Redford MI, and Vincent (Theresa) Carson of Garner, NC, Jeremy (Kayla) Norris, Shiloh Norris both of Charleston, SC; great grandchildren, Sophia, Hazel and Eloise Parker, Isabella and Ethan Cullum, and Carson Woods, Adhlyn and Asa Grace Norris; and many nieces, nephews and cousins in the United States, Canada and Italy.

Attilio was preceded in death by his parents, Maria Rosa and Francesco Pugliese; brothers and sisters in law, Salvatore and Rosina Pugliese; Guiseppe and Pasqualina Pugliese; Domenico and Delina Pugliese; sister and brother-in-law, Mariana and Francesco Minici; sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Angelina and Dominic Chiera; father-In-law, Luigi Femia and mother-in-law, Immacolata Femia; nephews, James Chiera, Luigi Pugliese and Frank Pugliese; and niece, Rosina Totino.

The family wishes to extend its thanks to the caregivers who provided loving care at his home.

Family and friends may call at Donovan Funeral Home (17 Southwest Ave., Tallmadge, Ohio) Monday, June 17, 2024 from 4 until 7pm.

Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 am Tuesday, June 18, 2024 at Our Lady of Victory Church (77 North Ave., Tallmadge, Ohio). The funeral mass will be live-streamed on Our Lady of Victory Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ourladyofvictorychurchtallmadge/.

Interment will take place at Holy Cross Cemetery

Donation can be made to the Cure Alzheimer's Fund https://curealz.org/giving/donate/

Cure Alzheimer's Fund
Web: https://curealz.org/giving/donate/