Angelo Anthony LaPerna Sr.

Angelo Anthony LaPerna, Sr., age 93, passed away on May 23, 2013 in his home in Conroe, Texas. He was born to Italian immigrants, Sam and Mary LaPerna, on November 17, 1919 in Houston, Texas. He beat the odds weighing about 3 pounds and being born at home. He used to say that he fit in a shoe box when he was born which was fitting for the son of a shoe maker.

Angelo was a diesel mechanic for Mack Trucks and a long time member of the American Legion.

Although born & raised in the city, Angelo preferred country living. After marrying, he purchased land with his wife Barbara in League City and later several acres in Montgomery County which was his last home. After commuting to Houston for many years, Angelo enjoyed over 30 years of retirement. He was a hobby farmer and through the years, he raised an assortment of livestock. He usually made the cattle into pets and named them after family members. Needless to say most of the them were not eaten. He loved to work outside and even in his senior years could out work most men half his age. He was so particular that he would spend 3 hours setting one fence post so the fence on the property was a 40+ year work in progress. He also appreciated anything with a motor, especially his tractor. Angelo enjoyed ordering things from catalogs especially vitamins, power tools and small kitchen appliances and gadgets. Although he liked to cook, he didn’t use the cooking gadgets much himself but enjoyed watching others use them while he talked about the gadget. Fish and coffee were the basis of his diet and he attributed his long life to them.

Angelo leaves behind his loving wife of 55 years, Barbara. He also leaves his two daughters, Fran Sanders, Charlotte Knox, and three sons, Angelo LaPerna, Jr., James LaPerna, and Lawrence LaPerna; seven grand children, Lawrence LaPerna, Sarah LaPerna, Elizabeth LaPerna, Catherine LaPerna, Jeremiah Knox, Jared Knox, Justin Knox and three great grand children, Jordan Knox, Sophia Knox and Madison Knox; and two sisters, Frances Wilson and Jo Florence Landers and numerous nieces and nephews.

Angelo is preceded in death by his parents, Mary and Sam LaPerna, sisters, Grace Cooper, Ann Hill, and brother, Sam J. LaPerna, Sr.

A visitation for Angelo will take place on Tuesday, May 28, 2013 at Kingwood Funeral Home, 22800 Highway 59 North, Kingwood, Texas 77339, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m with a vigil to begin at 7:00 p.m. The funeral mass will take place at Saint Alphonsus Catholic Church, 9217 East Avenue L, Houston, Texas 77012, on Wednesday, May 29, 2013 starting at 10:00 a.m. Angelo will then be laid to rest at Forest Park Lawndale Cemetery on Wednesday, May 29, 2013 at 12:00 p.m. In true LaPerna fashion, a gathering involving plenty of food will be held at a relative’s home after the funeral.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. John of the Cross Catholic Church, 20000 Loop 494, New Caney, Texas 77357.