Submitted by: Dan Rich

Pasquale Nello Anastasio

Nov. 19, 1934 - April 4, 2002

South Bend Tribune 4/10/2002

Pasquale Nello Anastasio, 67, born into this world on Nov. 19, 1934, and born into eternity at 7:34 a.m on April 4, 2002.

Pasquale is survived by four brothers, Carlo, Filiberto, Vinicino and Gregorio Anastasio; one sister, Otilia Stodola; his "Aunt," Zia Teresa Linanello; and rejoins two brothers in love, Frank and Luigi Anastasio. Pasquale is also survived by his loving, devoted wife, Lolita Anastasio, and three strong sons, Carlo, AlejAndro and Esteban Anastasio; in addition to his four grandchildren, the children of his son Carlo, Joshua, Ashley, Chad and Gabriel Anastasio.

Born in the small coastal town of Gioiosa Jonica in the province of Reggio Calabria in southern Italy, Pasquale, at the age of 19 with his family boarded a ship to the United States in search of the "American Dream." And the dream he did find.

While living in South Bend, Ind., he went to an Italian dinner/dance, not knowing he would run into the woman he would spend the rest of his life loving, Dolores Lolita Gijon. She was visiting from Mexico City, Mexico. She spoke Spanish and he spoke Italian, but both spoke the language of love. A love that could both be seen and felt when Pasquale and Lolita danced. All it took was one dance and six months later, on Jan. 15, 1966, they were married. They spent the next 36 years living the "American Dream."

In 1997, Pasquale and Lolita packed up and moved to Boise, Idaho, where they lived briefly with their son, AlejAndro, while starting a new life. In Boise, Pasquale and Lolita found a new home, a new house, new jobs, new friends and a new life.

Pasquale was employed as a bus driver for children at Friends of Children and Family Inc., Head Start. He was greatly appreciated by his co-workers and the children he drove to school. Pasquale loved the kids as much as the kids loved him.

Pasquale was a strong, simple man with simple pleasures: good times with family (he was all about family), good friends, and good wine ("It's gotta be red… what other kind is there?"). He enjoyed ducks (Donald Duck the most), going to movies, time spent with his garden, funny conversations with his bird (who whistles the theme song to "The Godfather"), reading, listening to opera, evening walks, and Buddhism.

Pasquale is and was a great man, husband, brother, son, father, grandfather, friend, and employee and employer. He truly lived a great life and left this world a better place than the world in which he was born. Pasquale Nello Anastasio will never be forgotten for his very presence will forever be alive in the hearts and minds of all the people he touched.

Please do not send flowers. It is Pasquale's wish that the money spent on flowers can be better used if that money is donated to a lung cancer or cancer foundation of your choice.

The Anastasio family will be holding a memorial service/Mass in South Bend toward the end of the month of April. All dates and information will be announced within the next few days.