Francesco Lazzara

Francesco Lazzara, 80, of the Dongan Hills Colony, Staten Island, N.Y., passed away on April 7, 2016, at Staten Island University Hospital. Born in Vizzini, Sicily, Mr. Lazzara was a musician and restaurateur. He played the piano and accordion and was an avid soccer fan and a member of the Vizzini Club and Ragusa Club. He loved spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren. Surviving are his wife of 49 years, Antonietta Lazzara; children, Sylvana, Sabrina and Carl Scalzo, and Romina; grandchildren, Samantha, Francesca, Milena and Marcello; one sister, two brothers and many nieces and nephews. Mr. Lazzara was predeceased by his parents, Sebastiano and Giovanna; brothers, Vito and Salvatore, and sister, Angelina Verga. Visitation is from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. on both Saturday, April 9, and Sunday, April 10, at Casey Funeral Home. A Mass will be said on Monday, April 11, at 10 a.m. at Our Lady Star of the Sea. Interment is in Woodbridge Memorial Gardens

God saw you getting sleepy,

a cure was not to be,

So God put his arms around you

And whispered, come with me,

With tearful eyes we watched you suffer,

And saw you fade away.

Although we loved you dearly,

We couldn't make you stay.

A golden heart stopped beating,

Hard working hands at rest.

God broke our hearts to prove to us,

He only took the best.

Each time we see your picture,

you seem to smile and say,

we'll meet again someday.