BOARDMAN, OH - Feliciano “Felix” Bevilacqua, 92, formerly of Girard, Ohio,passed away late Tuesday evening, June 17, 2014, at his home with his family by his side.

Felix was born Oct. 21, 1921, in Introdacqua, Abruzzo, Italy, the first-born son of Luigi and Maria Louisa Monaco Bevilacqua, and he came to the area to be with his father in 1937.

Felix attended Tod Woods School for a short time and later was sent out to work so that he and his father could send money for his mother, sister and brother to come to America.

Mr. Bevilacqua was drafted into the military when World War II began, even though he was not yet an American citizen.
He served the country in the U.S. Army under General George S. Patton for three years, storming Omaha Beach on D-DAY, a day he never forgot, fought in the Battle of the Bulge and the Crossing of the Rhine.
He received five Battle Stars, the Bronze Arrowhead Medal and the Croix de Guerre for his service.
Felix became a U.S. citizen in May of 1945 while still in Germany, and then returned to the United States in September of that year.

On Dec. 1, 1945, he married the love of his life, Angela Petrella.

Felix worked as a welder and later as a foreman at the Youngstown Foundry and Machine Company for 26 years until it merged with Wean United, where he worked for many years, and then he went to work for Youngstown Steel Tank.

In 1973, Felix founded Northeast Fabricators in an unused building in downtown Youngstown which grew to employ 25 people. It was quite an achievement for anyone, but especially for someone who “came across” and made his way all on his own.
He always worked hard and taught his family the importance of hard work, saving money, loyalty to this country, which he fought so hard to defend, and to never forget their Italian heritage.
Mr. Bevilacqua had many friends and did whatever he could to help them out.
He could always be counted on to “fix” things and always stressed the importance of keeping the family together and to always be a good friend.

Mr. Bevilacqua was a member of St. Rose Church in Girard, where he served as a trustee for the St. Rose Senior Citizens.

He was also a member of the St. Rose Grounds Crew and worked many other jobs at the parish, including usher and altar server at the church. Felix also belonged to the Mahoning Valley Foreman Association, served as President of the Mahoning Valley Technical Society, where he was awarded Man of the Year in 1994, was a Group Commander for the Civil Air Patrol, and also served as navigator and secretary for the Girard Council.

Felix leaves his wife of 68 years, Angela Petrella Bevilacqua; two daughters, Mary Louise (Patrick) Carlon of Boardman, with whom he made his home, and Patricia (James) Brown of Jackson, Mich.; a son, Ronald (Shawnee Spicer) Bevilacqua of Hudson, Ohio; 11 grandchildren, Dina Maiorana (Ben Barnes) of Columbus, OH, Angela (Josh) Bloniasz of Suffield, Conn., Joseph (Erin George) Maiorana of Columbus, Anthony (Julie Sincich) of Girard, Joy Maiorana of Boardman, Keith Brown of Eaton Rapids, Michigan, Kristopher Brown of Adrian, Mich., Elise (Ryan) Berndt of Chicago, Chrisitan (Kristen Ensler) Ambrose of Tennessee, and Natalie and Nathan Bevilacqua of Hudson; 12 great-grandchildren; a sister, Stella (Joseph) Comichisto and sister-in-law, Mary Bevilacqua both of Hollywood Florida; and three brothers-in-law, Andrew (Millie) Petrella of Girard, OH, Sam (Dahlia) Pagano of Girard, and James Petrella of Boardman.

A brother, Pasquale Bevilacqua; a sister-in-law, Dolores Petrella; and a brother and sister-in-law, Guy and Irene Pagano, are deceased.

Family and friends may call from 4 to 7 p.m. on Friday, June 20, at Kinnick Funeral Home McClurkin Memorial Chapel, 222 S. State St., Girard.

Funeral services will begin on Saturday at 12:30 p.m. at the funeral home and continue with a Mass of Christian Burial to be celebrated at St. Rose Church at 1 p.m.

A committal service with military honors will follow at Calvary Cemetery in Youngstown, OH .
(Mahoning County)

Visit kinnickfuneralhome.com to view this obituary and to send condolences online to Felix’s family.

Veteran