Rosario “Roy” Calabresi, Sr. passed away, surrounded by family, on the morning of Feb 17, 2019, at the age of 94. Born and raised in New Orleans, he was later a resident of Arabi in St. Bernard Parish. The son of the late Angelo T. and Caterina “Katie” Musso Calabresi, he was preceded in death by his beloved wife Barbara Knight Calabresi, his son Frank Calabresi, his siblings Jeanette Calabresi, Nadine Carmouche, and Salvadore Calabresi. He is survived by his sister Antonina “Nina” Robison and brother Anthony “Tony” Calabresi; his daughter Catherine Morlier (Dudley), his son Roy Calabresi Jr. (Jeannie), eight grandchildren, thirteen great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.
During WWII, he enlisted in the US Army when he was only seventeen years old. He served as a B-26 Marauder airman and later as a pilot in the 391st Bomb Group of the 9th Army Air Corps. After completing missions in the invasion of Sicily, his unit was transferred to England where they participated in Operation Overlord during the D-Day invasion of Normandy. Their unit was then re-stationed in France under the command of Gen. George Patton of the US 3rd Army. There his unit participated in many engagements including the Battle of St. Lo, the Battle of Bresque, and the Battle of the Bulge. His unit was awarded the Presidential Meritorious Service Unit Citation Medal for their efforts to resupply the Americans who were trapped behind enemy lines during the Battle of the Bulge. After WWII ended, he remained a member of the Louisiana National Guard and served with the 935th Field Artillery Battalion of the 39th Infantry Division until 1950.
In his youth, Roy Calabresi, Sr. was an avid boxer and boxed in several local clubs in New Orleans and later in the US Army. He moved to St Bernard Parish after WWII and, for a time, served as a policeman with the St. Bernard Parish Police Department. He was an active member of the Freemasons Lodge #468 and the Jerusalem Shriners organizations. Roy was a brick mason, skilled carpenter and boat builder, and after he retired he had painstakingly built several Lafitte Skiffs by hand. He was also an enthusiastic folk-artist painter, gardener and amateur Jazz musician who loved to play the guitar, banjo, piano, trumpet, drums and even the accordion. In his later years, he was active with the St. Bernard Council on Aging and the VFW. He truly embodied the best of the “Greatest Generation”. We will always carry his memory in our hearts.
A visitation will be held for Roy at ST. BERNARD MEMORIAL FUNERAL HOME, 701 W. VIRTUE STREET, in Chalmette, on Thursday, February 21, 2019 from 9:30 AM – 12:00 PM. A funeral mass will be held in his honor at 12:00 PM. He will be laid to rest, with military honors, in Southeast Louisiana Veterans Cemetery, 34888 Grantham College Dr. in Slidell. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Roy’s great-granddaughter, Zoe, who was diagnosed with Idiopathic Adolescent Scoliosis. You can make a donation at any Bank Plus, under the name Calabresi, Account #1720355286. Roy would appreciate your kindness and generosity.
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