Obituary of Alfred A. Imondi

******* My Life - Al Imondi ******* Dear family and good friends. I have lived far more years than I planned and I have been blessed in so many ways. Your love and support has been a continuous blessing on me and my family. I could not leave without reflecting on my life's journey. Being born the fourth child of eleven in 1924 would prove to be a challenge. Growing up poor wasn't much fun but having a supportive family was wonderful. Having brothers and sisters to lean on shaped my childhood and helped make me a better person. Living through the depression was one of the major events in my life and it would take many years for me to overcome the hardships that we endured – but we pulled together as a family and we survived. Leaving High School early was something I thought I had to do but it made the rest of my life more challenging. Not completing my education made things more difficult for many years. Growing up as young boy my family was everything to me – and we all had to make sacrifices to survive. Eight boys and three girls filled our small home. Mama and Papa kept close tabs on all of us and we didn't dare challenge their authority or get out of line since Papa was not known for having a sense of humor. I was blessed to have such a wonderful family behind me at every turn – I could always lean on them when I needed advice and support. And I will do my best to prepare a place for all of them in the afterlife. For now my advice is to enjoy every minute you have on earth with your families. The major event in my life after surviving the depression, was World War II. I was drafted into the Army and left Providence for the very first time. It remains a highlight of my life that I was able serve our country along with my brothers Hank, Joe and John during the War. We all served and we all made it home safe – something that was not assured especially for my brothers who saw significant combat. In fact, I have always been proud that every one of my brothers found a way to serve in the military during their younger days. Military service remains a family tradition. For my own military service, I had it fairly easy during the war compared to my brothers. Building the railroads throughout Africa and Europe was not as dangerous as dodging bullets at the front or flying combat missions against the Japanese in the Pacific. I met the love of my life, Maria, in Italy in 1945, while rebuilding the railroad through her hometown. I didn't know it then but meeting Maria was the best thing that ever happened to me and it changed the path of my life forever. After the War Maria came to America in on a War-Bride Ship. We were quickly married and began our life together on Valley Street in Providence. I was in love for the first time and it was wonderful. Life as a newlywed in Providence proved to be a bit more challenging than I had hoped. Finding meaningful work was not easy, as many veterans returning from the war flooded the job market. On the family front, the Lord blessed us with four healthy and beautiful children in eight years. We were quickly outgrowing our little apartment as well as our financial budget. After several years of searching for a decent job to support the family – I took drastic action, I packed up Maria and the kids and moved the whole family to New York – it was the most difficult decision I ever made – leaving Mama and Papa and all my brothers and sisters was something I dreaded – but my responsibility was to Maria and our children. Lucky for us, we had a great welcome waiting for us in New York. Maria's family took us in, gave me a job, and then helped us buy our first home. I was overwhelmed with their generosity and kindness. We will always owe them for the example of love and sacrifice they showed us in those initial years of our transition to becoming true New Yorkers. New York proved to be a land of plenty, but I never got used to being the lost sheep away from my family in New England. But living in New York provided opportunities we never would have access to back in Providence. Our children were able to get a good education and find meaningful work. My life has had many milestones – despite raising 4 teenagers, Maria and I managed to stay married for nearly 70 years – quite a record for a wartime romance. I miss her dearly. I've had the pleasure of watching my children grow into successful citizens. I have also been blessed with ten grandchildren – and eight great grandchildren – all blessings from the lord. My only regret is my sweet daughter Elizabeth was taken from us far too soon. But now the time has come for me to meet my maker. Hopefully I have been a faithful and loyal follower of the Lord and the pearly gates might open an inch or two for me to sneak in – perhaps they need a softball coach up there, or someone to start a bowling league, or a Piano player with a long list of oldies…in any case I've had a grand life so don't shed any tears for me. In the end, the story of my life is a simple one – I never met a stranger – I never went hungry after the depression was over, I served my country faithfully when called, and I did what I could to make life on this earth a better place. I hope my report card will focus primarily on my efforts and good intentions and not so much my shortcomings. Please use the remainder of your days on earth to enjoy your family. Make every attempt to heal the wounds between brothers and sisters and parents and children. There is nothing more important than keeping the family intact. And please don't feel sorry for me – my life on earth was full of joy. Whenever adversity would strike, the Lord intervened and put me on the right path, sometimes against my wishes. And now I am hopeful that I will be re-united with my wife Maria and my daughter Elizabeth. Please continue to pray for all of us that we might each reach paradise. Also, please look after my family after I am gone – they have looked after me for many years now and seldom complained. I need to publically thank my three sons and their wives for keeping me grounded and supporting Maria and I in our final years. No one could expect better support than I had. Finally – Thank you again for coming to bid me farewell. Your friendship and support means a great deal to me and my family. May the good Lord bless you and your families. Yours in Christ -- Al