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Eliseo Emma Obituary
Eliseo "Lee" Emma has gone on to be with the Lord. A man of faith, Eliseo was born in 1922, the son of an Italian-Pentecostal pioneer evangelist. He enlisted and served bravely in the US Navy during World War II. A proud Sicilian, "Mr. Lee" later opened Angelina's Pizzeria in Staten Island in 1957 and Pizza Town Pizzeria in Tempe in 1981. Upon hearing that the US Navy had killed Usama bin Laden, Mr. Lee raised his eyebrows and affirmatively uttered what became his last words "Go get 'em boys" before our Seabee drifted into a deep sleep, to go onto his last campaign. He is survived by his daughter, son, daughter-in-law, two grandsons and granddaughter. Last respects may be paid to "Papaela" at Carr-Tenney Mortuary on Tuesday evening (6-9 PM) and Wednesday morning (10:30 AM-12:30 PM), with the funeral following at 1:30 PM at the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona.
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Memories and Condolences
for Eliseo Emma
Nicole Hannah
May 11, 2011
Good evening my most wonderful friend, Paul. I am so sorry to hear about your grandfather Lee. You and your mother will be in my thoughts and prayers. You guys did your very best to take care of him. I am sure that though he was confused at times, he knew how much you both loved him and even in his final years, he still seemed happy. God bless you both.
Alicia Eaton
May 11, 2011
I am so sorry to hear about your grandfather, Paul. I will continue to keep you all in my prayers. Work has been so crazy and life isn’t getting any easier either. I have been having an extremely tough time and just not myself. Please give your mom a big hug for me. Paul, I’m here if you need anything.
Sandra Zummo
May 11, 2011
I'm so terribly sorry for your loss. I'd had no idea of Lee's background (when I used to come into Angelina's). You are justifiably proud of him and his contribution to this country. My condolences to you and your family.
Clare C.
May 11, 2011
I am sorry for your family's loss. Your grandfather sounded like a great man.
Michael A. Iafrato
May 11, 2011
Im sorry for your loss... God bless your Papaela... He will be missed!!!
Angela Pasquale
May 9, 2011
We had not seen Lee since his days of
living on Staten Island,but we could never forget him. He was always so happy to hear from us. Our favorite
memory of Lee are the years he owned
Angelina's Pizzeria, making his pizza's
in the window wearing his famous
sailor hat. Our deepest sympathy to
his wonderful Family
Go in Peace Lee
Love Angela & John
May 9, 2011
We had not seen Lee since his days of
living on Staten Island,but we could never forget him. He was always so happy to hear from us. Our favorite
memory of Lee are the years he owned
Angelina's Pizzeria, making his pizza's
in the window wearing his famous
sailor hat. Our deepest sympathy to
his wonderful Family
Go in Peace Lee
Love Angela & John
Noelle Nikpour
May 9, 2011
I am so very sorry about your grandfather's passing. He sounded like a great man! I like his last words! So good!...again I'm sorry for your loss.
"(His last words) I love it."
Andrea Tantaros
May 9, 2011
May 9, 2011
Frank and I were very sad to hear about your grandfather Lee's passing. He was a wonderful person and will be sadly missed by all who knew him. I particulary remember how I used to help him fold the pizza boxes and peel garlic with him. He was a special person. May God bless and comfort you and your family.
Frank & Dianne
Donna Zidar
May 9, 2011
When I think of Lee, I will always remember him at Pizza Town telling me he was doing good because he was still praising the Lord. I know he is doing GREAT because he no longer needs faith and can praise our Lord while being with Him! So great a gain for Lee, so great a loss for us! What a beautiful inspiring family he made. Good job faithful servant.
Paul
May 9, 2011
You know, death is not something to be taken lightly. With his death, a sense of social emptiness is manifest. The world should be mourning today, and locals from every city should be crying, because without realizing it, life has lost one of it's favorite sons.
Think about it, Mr. Lee linked so many fascinating lighting points from the twentieth and twenty-first centuries: Italians, Sicilians, Pentecostals, Seabees (John Wayne actually did his most famous war film about that outfit which "Lee" was among the first to enlist into), World War II, Pizzerias, Model T Fords, Volkswagen Buses, and finally the US Navy's assignation of Usama. His nicknames: Mr. Lee (later popularized in a song) and Papaela, which although I created that nickname for him as a child by a slip of the tongue, it nevertheless echoes 'Pappy', a most popular term of endearment for Marine, Navy and Flying Tiger's squadron commanders during the War (e.g. 'Pappy Boyington').
Is it me, or was 'our favorite Seabee' the center of the universe of nostalgia? We should pray we fair as well in our wake and that our footprint in life covers as much cultural territory.
Kristen Robbins
May 8, 2011
To The Family Of Eliseo Emma -
On behalf of the staff of Carr Tenney Mortuary, I would like to extend our heartfelt condolence to you. Thank you for entrusting your loved one into our care.
Kristen Y. Robbins
Funeral Director
From the Staff of Carr-Tenney Mortuary
May 8, 2011
Offering our deepest condolences during this difficult time.
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Richardson Funeral HomeNow at 4310 East Southern Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85042
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