Aug. 22, 1921 -- Sept. 9, 2003

SOUTH BEND, IN -- Louis John Ferraro Sr., 82, passed away following an Illness on Tuesday, Sept. 9, in Memorial Hospital.

Louis was born in Gioiosa Jonica, Provincia Di Reggio Calabria, Italy, on Aug. 22, 1921, to the late Gennarro Linarello and Josephine Linarello Ferrarro. He was also preceded in death by his stepfather, Vincent Ferraro.

On Nov. 29, 1941, in the rectory at St. Joseph Catholic Church in South Bend, Ind., he married his beloved wife, Betty J. (Kope) Ferraro, who survives of South Bend. His two sons also survive whom he loved, Dale E. (Janice) Ferraro of Michigan City, Ind., and Louis J. (Janet) Ferraro Jr. of South Bend.

Here is some of the family he loved and adored so much: his four grandchildren, Tamara (John) Moody-Vestal, New York, Terri (Mark) Robbins of Michigan City, Ind., Gina (Steve) Kaminski of Madison, Wis., and Angela (Doug) Kenney of Michigan City. Other survivors include his four great-grandchildren, Drew and Emma Robbins, Janey Moody and Ava Kaminski; two sisters, Theresa Caruso of Staten Island, N.Y., and Clara Mitchell of South Bend; two brothers, Nicholas (Rose) Ferraro of South Bend and Patsy (June) Ferraro of Lawton, Mich.; and several nieces and nephews.

Mr. Ferraro was the superintendent of maintenance for the South Bend Water Works. Retiring after 42 1/2 years of service, he was awarded the Key to the City and an Official Proclamation by then-Mayor Joseph Kernan.

He served in the United States Army Air Force during World War II, nine months of which was as an interpreter in Naples, Italy. He was a member of the Army and Navy Club #291 and St. Anthony's Parish. He was a Golden Gloves Boxing Champion in 1941, and was a boxer in the service. He enjoyed tending to his roses and fig trees.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Anthony dePadua Catholic Church on Friday at 10 a.m., with Rev. Terry Fisher, pastor, officiating. Burial will follow at St. Joseph Valley Memorial Park. Visitation will be from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. today in the McGann Funeral Homes, University Area Chapel, 2313 E. Edison Road, near Ironwood, where the Rosary will be prayed at 3 p.m.

Memorial donations may be made in his honor to the American Diabetes Association, 53631 Fir Road, Granger, IN 46530.