Robert E. Byrnes

Five days after celebrating his 104th birthday, Robert E, Byrnes died peacefully on Thursday, August 16th. Born on August 11, 1914 in Hastings, Pennsylvania, we was one of 11 children of Emmett and Marie Dick Byrnes.

Bob enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1941 and was honorably discharged in November, 1945 with the rank of Staff Sergeant. Who of his other brothers, John and Joseph, also served during World War II.

He and his wife, Vera Mongelluzzo, were married on November 3,1948 and moved to Orlando in 1950, settling at 1606 E. Washington Street, where he continued to reside to the time of his death. HIs wife predeceased him in May, 1992. Bob worked as a meat cutter at the A&P grocery at Amelia and Orange Avenue and after his retirement in 1979, took up employment with Ronnie's Restaurant in their kitchen, finally retiring for good at age 82 when Ronnie's closed its doors in 1996.

Bob was a devout Catholic and attended Mass daily at St. James. When he celebrated his 100th birthday, Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer issued a proclamation designating August 11, 2014 as "Bob Byrnes Day".

Bob was a soft-spoken man of the highest morals and integrity who was also a loving husband, son, brother and uncle. He was an example for all to follow.

He was predeceased by five brothers, William, Andrew, Joseph, James Richard and Francis James, and a sister, Edith Elizabeth Grill. He is survived by two brothers, John and Patrick, as well as two sisters, Mary Elaine Byrnes and Marie Carmine Lieb. Bob had 28 nieces and nephews, 24 who survived him.

Baldwin-Fairchild, 301 N.E. Ivanhoe Boulevard, Orlando, Florida 32771, (407) 898-8111, www.baldwinfairchildivanhoe.com, is in charge of funeral arrangements with a burial Mass to be celebrated at his home parish, St. James Catholic Cathedral, 215 N. Orange Avenue, Orlando, Florida 32801, (407) 422-2005, stjamesorlando.org, on Friday, August 24, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. After a second burial mass, he will be laid to rest at St. Bernard Cemetery in Hastings, Pennsylvania beside his beloved wife. The family requests, if appropriate to each person, donations be made to St. James Cathedral so that Masses may be offered in the future for the Byrnes and Mongelluzzo families.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.dignitymemorial.com for the Byrnes family.