Pasquale LaSusa

Pasquale LaSusa, 94, of Ontario, died August 8, 2015. Born January 29, 1921 in Casteldaccia, Palermo, Sicily, he was the son of Onofrio and Maria (Barreca) LaSusa. A true entrepreneur at heart, Pasquale opened his villages' only bakery and gristmill in Sicily. He married the love of his life, Mary Chirico on December 28, 1946. On June 24, 1954, he came to the United States with his wife and two sons. After settling here, he and his wife had their third son, completing their family, and he soon after built their family home. In 1971, he opened the first Papa's Gondola, moving the business to Ontario in 1973. The Restaurant was his life's passion and work, providing time for his love of cooking. A family man, Pasquale loved his family more than anything and passed his spirit of entrepreneurship and love for life down to his children and grandchildren.

A truly uplifting person, Pasquale was always happy and his life-loving personality rubbed off on everyone. Having a bad time around him was impossible. He loved being around people and his favorite past time, even after his sons had grown and moved out, was to gather for a family meal. In his free time, he enjoyed playing Bocce Ball with his family and gardening.

Surviving are his wife, Mary (Chirico) LaSusa; sons, Fred (June) LaSusa, Tony LaSusa, and Pat (Dawn) LaSusa; grandchildren, Patrick (Julie) LaSusa, Tiffany (Chris) LaSusa Stein, Phillip LaSusa, and Tyler LaSusa; great-grandchildren, Michael and Olivia LaSusa; and many nieces and nephews.

Along with his parents, Pasquale was preceded in death by his sisters, Rosalia and Maria and brothers, Salvatori, Giuseppe, Onofrio, and Antonio.

Family and friends are invited to visit on Wednesday, August 12, 2015 from 4-7 p.m. at the Ontario Home of Wappner Funeral Directors, 100 S. Lexington Springmill Road, Ontario. A prayer service will be held at 7:00 p.m. at the funeral home. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Thursday, August 13, 2015 at 10 a.m. at St. Peter's Catholic Church, 104 W. First Street, Mansfield, 44902. Burial will follow in Mansfield Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of North Central Ohio, 1050 Dauch Drive, Ashland, OH 44805 or St. Peter's Catholic Church.