Angelo Louis Felici
December 30, 1934 – May 13, 2023
Angelo was born to Angelo and Clara Felici on December 30, 1934, in Nanticoke, Pennsylvania. His parents were full-blooded Italian immigrants that came to the United States in the 1930s from Gavignano, Italy, a town near Rome. He was an outstanding basketball player and an all-around nice guy at Nanticoke High School in Pennsylvania. His yearbook said it all, “Ang was prominent in basketball and social affairs. His fine wit and good looks account for his winning personality!” No one was ever a stranger to him. I guess that’s where all of his eight children got their athleticism and outgoing personalities!
In 1955, Angelo (Ang) came to Omaha, Nebraska to visit his only brother Lou, who was working at Armour Packing Plant. As luck would have it, he also met his future wife, Sandra, or “San” as he called her, at Turner Park in Omaha where he “accidentally” tripped her. Thus, the 67-1/2-year love story began! With his father’s permission, he stayed in Omaha, moved in with his brother, and got his first job at Carl Anderson, which was an automotive parts company. They married in November 1955 and moved back to Nanticoke, Pennsylvania, where they learned they were expecting their first child.
As the story goes, Ang’s wife, Sandy, was not very fond of the “dreary” mining town of Nanticoke, PA, so they moved back to Omaha in late 1956. Ang worked at a couple of jobs before landing a job as a machinist at Continental Can which was a packaging company and producer of metal containers. After more than 38 years, Ang took an early retirement in 1992, and enjoyed 31 wonderful years in retirement!
Ang was blessed with eight children, seven born by the time his wife was 25 years old, with the last child born in 1970. This rambunctious bunch of children, five boys, and three girls, were the joy of his life (most of the time)! Sports that included track, football, basketball, baseball, and wrestling were a common thread among all his children, and Ang and his wife never missed a track meet or a game! In addition, Ang coached four of his five sons in baseball for Holy Cross Catholic School where they won the championship in 1969. He didn’t stop there as he went on to play in a slow-pitch softball league (60 and older) at Holy Cross for 10+ years. However, basketball was his first love, and he was most “famous” for his hook shot. None of his kids could ever block it! As time went on, he became a fixture at many of his grandchildren’s games and even a great-grandchild’s football game! His love of children never went unnoticed, including the many children that came through the doors of his wife’s daycare in their home.
Despite sports being so prevalent in his life, he still made time to go to Las Vegas with his wife every August for many years. He also loved the horses and attended numerous horse races with his sons at the Aksarben horse track. Recently, he had one of his sons place a bet on the No. 5 horse (always #5) in the Kentucky Derby – $10 to win, $5 to place, and $5 to show. (Never a big spender!) There also were so many good memories of camping at Platte River State Park and attending La Festa Italiana every year. And then there was his great love of spaghetti from Sons of Italy.
Most importantly, Angelo was a man of great faith. The Felici name will be carried on for a very long time through his 22 grandkids and 29 great-grandkids and counting. He will be dearly missed by all who knew him. God Bless my dear husband, our dad, our grandfather, and our great-grandfather. May you rest in peace forever. We love you!
Preceded in death by parents, Clara (Cipriani) and Angelo Louis Felici; brothers, Louis Angelo and Vincent Angelo; son-in-law, Andre Pearson. Survived by wife, Sandra; brother-in-law, Marvin Ellis (Esther); children: Gina Pearson, Steve, Mike (Roz), Tony (Dee), Dave (Patty), Christine Burton (Charles), Jeff, and Tracy Felici; 22 grandchildren; and 29 great-grandchildren.
VISITATION begins on Tuesday, May 16th at 6:15pm at Holy Cross Catholic Church, 4810 Woolworth Ave., followed by a VIGIL SERVICE at 7:30pm. MASS of CHRISTIAN BURIAL: Wednesday, May 17th at 11am at Holy Cross Catholic Church. INTERMENT: Evergreen Memorial Park . In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Fred and Pamela Buffett Cancer Center. To view a live broadcast of the Vigil Service and Mass, please go to www.heafeyheafey.com and click the “View Live Cast” button at the top of the home page.
7 Comments
Dad, I already miss you so much I sometimes cannot breathe. I promise to take good care of Tate and Parker. Thank you for loving us so hard these past handful of years. We needed you and you were there… always. I will forever treasure the night you held me so tight on the porch when we had finally made our way home. We thought home was were we had come from, but home is were there is love and that was found in your arms. The Boys and I will see you again. Save us a place in Heaven. We love you always and forever. Tracy, Tate Angelo, & Parker Louis
I am not sure if you remember me – I life guarded at Elmwood pool and you all would come about dinner time a lot. Your dad would pick you up and wanted to make sure you were behaving!!! Never a dull moment with the Felicis, always a twinkle in your eyes and polite.
Sorry for your loss.
Maureen, I don’t remember you specifically, but yes we would swim almost everyday at Elmwood in the summer! My mom and dad would save all year and then buy a summer family pass for us. Fun times! Thanks for the memory!
I’m sending prayers for all of the family .. 🕊️🕊️🕊️
As I sat down to start a tribute to you, the man I called “Dad”, I quickly realized it was easy to start the tribute, but I was having a very difficult time ending it. Then it dawned on me, there is no end! You will continue to live thru me and your presence will always be felt. You communicated numerous times you wanted to go “home” and I’m I sure the “Welcome Home” sign was right there at the gates of heaven when you arrived. Love you 🥰.
Mr Felici I will always remember you being “bigger than life” and very encouraging. My condolences to the family and my childhood friend Tony. His was clearly a life so very well lived.
I’ve read this Ang’s life story six times thus far. Thank you for summarizing Angelo’s life and loves so beautifully… it was likely a family collaboration, but I do remember Steve sitting so intently during Mr. Keenan’s English class in tenth grade! The Flaxbeard’s love the Felici’s … and thank heavens for the union of handsome Angelo and beautiful Sandy. So many memories of you all–Elmwood, Central, cheerleading, car rides, Baker’s, La Casa, teaching Felici’s at CMS, La Festa, concerts, Vala’s–just to name a few. I just found out Jeff lived next door to my son until Nick recently moved to Houston! Watched the beautiful services online as we live in AZ. We make frequent visits to Omaha and hoping there are many more memories made. Rest in Peace, Angelo. The world is a better place for you, San, and your family!!
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