Ludovico "Lou" DiBella

Ludovico “Lou” Di Bella, 91, was the proprietor of Lou’s Pizzeria which he opened in Newark and Lyndhurst from 1958-1979 with his wife Josephine. In 1980 he purchased a sandwich shop in Bloomfield which he operated with his daughter Michele.

Born in Monreale Sicily in 1924, he was a WW 11 veteran in the Italian Army. His unit was captured by the Germans and he was transferred to Germany as a prisoner to perform slave labor. After 2 years he escaped the camp and was in hiding with the help of a German family until it was safe for him to return home. After returning to Italy he took over the family business which was a trattoria in Sicily.

In 1955 he came to the United States with his wife Josephine, lived in Newark and then resided in Belleville for 55 years. Visitation will be on Wednesday, April 20th from 4-8pm. Funeral services will be conducted by the Zarro Funeral Home (www.zarrofuneralhome.net), 145 Harrison St., Bloomfield, on Thursday, April 21st at 9:30am followed by a 11:30 mass at St. Peter’s Church, Belleville. The burial will be at Glendale Cemetery, Bloomfield.

Lou was the loving husband of the late Josephine Sciortino Di Bella and father of the late Valerie Di Bella. He is survived by his loving daughter Michele Updegrove and loving son-in-law Bill Updegrove, his best companion grand dog Apollo, his loving godchild Ralph Stefanelli, sister-in-law Randi, Jean and Viola, 17 nieces and nephews, lifelong friend Frank Di Mitri and the late Marco Di Mitri.