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Louis Damiani Obituary
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Memories and Condolences
for Louis Damiani
Holy Spirit
Karen Foster Montgomery
April 29, 2012
Prayers and condolences for all Lou's family. He was a very selfless person and through his Christianity has given us many great memories.
Rev. Paul Jarvis
April 3, 2012
I am the pastor of St. Joseph Church and School in Rosemount, and I had the pleasure of presiding at this Son of St. Joseph Church. Here is the homily delivered by Lou's son, Deacon Joe Damiani, at Lou's Celebration of Life:
Louis J. Damiani
Wisdom 3:1-9, 1 John 3:1-2, Matt 5:1-12
On behalf of Father Paul and the Church of St. Joseph, I want to extend our sincere sympathy to all of Dad's family and friends.
Friends, we are gathered here today to celebrate Dad's life, to share our memories of him and to bring healing and comfort to each other.
Dad had a long life, almost 90 years. Those years were not always easy, but gave him a rich and full life, a life marked by the sign of faith.
Lou Damiani was the fifth of seven children born above his mother and father's grocery store on the east side of St. Paul.
Dad was sickly as a child. Mary and Joseph, his parents, were very worried about his health.
They were concerned that the polluted city air wasn't good for him, so they sent him to his grandparent's farm in Cumberland Wisconsin for some fresh air.
His mother constantly prayed for her son to get well. In time, her prayers we answered.
Dad survived and grew into a strong young man who served as a Naval Aviator aboard the battleship Tennessee.
On June 6, 1945 his mother received a telegram that his plane was missing in the pacific. The situation was bleak, the hope for his recovery slim.
That very day she began a novena to the Blessed Mother, and by the ninth day she learned that he had been spotted by a search plane and was safe aboard the ship.
Dad's mother, a strong and steady Roman Catholic, passed her faith on to him.
Over the years, Dad formed a deep and personal relationship with Christ, who he often referred to as the “man upstairs”.
His faith was the source of his inner strength, and the cornerstone of his life, which he acknowledged every day through his prayers and devotion.
Dad set an example for us, not only through prayer, but also through his words and deeds.
His attitude toward life was one of my greatest inspirations. He valued fairness, compassion, generosity, integrity and respect.
He never bragged or boasted about his accomplishments, which were many.
He set high standards for himself and expected them from others as well. Through his attitudes toward life,
Dad set an example for me of how to live the gospel.
In our reading from the Gospel of Matthew we heard the Beatitudes. Those teachings of Jesus that begin with the words “Blessed be…”
The Beatitudes are often referred to as the “Attitudes of Life” or the “Attitudes of Being.”
They go beyond the Ten Commandments. They do not tell us what to do or not to do, but rather the attitude we should have toward God and others.
We are called to have an attitude of humility, to live humbly and honestly before God and our neighbor.
We are called to have an attitude of compassion for those who suffer, and to support them and help them carry their crosses.
We are called to have an attitude of respect. To honestly admit that there just may be someone better at doing something than we are, and have the wisdom and courage to let it happen.
We are called to have an attitude of fairness. To be just in caring for the poor, the widows, the orphans, the homeless, those less fortunate then we are.
We are called to have an attitude of mercy. To honestly ask God to forgive us in the same way we forgive others.
Dad exemplified all of these attitudes in his dealings with others. I am sure many of you here know first hand what kind of a man he was.
A turning point in Dad's life came in 1955. He had been flying for Northwest Airlines for about three years when he decided to leave the city and move out to the country.
Eventually he and mom decided to buy a dilapidated old sheep farm, east of Rosemount.
They wanted a nice place to raise a family. I was three years old at the time; my brothers had not come along yet.
There was no running water. The only heat was a fuel oil burner and a potbelly stove.
Dad was a source of much amusement to his neighbors. He didn't know much about country life, but he was willing to learn, and he never gave up.
With the help of his neighbors he put in his own plumbing, dug out the basement, installed a natural gas pipeline, and remodeled the house.
He tried raising chickens, then rabbits, and then ducks. He was fairly successful breeding horses. But finally he settled on raising cattle, and at one time he had over a hundred head.
He was generous to those in need, he didn't expect to be praised or recognized. He just quietly worked long hard hours building his dream.
One by one he won people over by gaining their respect and admiration.
He raised his family on that farm, and lived there for more than 55 years.
My mother passed away in 1992, and for the last 19 years Dad lived alone in the house they had built.
Last March he lost everything when his house burned to the ground. He knew he would never be able to rebuild.
The loss of the farm was devastating for Dad. But it did not change his attitude. It just gave him an opportunity to start over.
He renewed old friendships, and made many new ones. He was particularly close to his caregivers who helped him get established in his apartment in town.
He lived there until he passed away at home last week. His caregivers, family and friends were with him.
He lived a full life, a good life, and was very much loved by everyone he knew.
When I think of Dad, I think of an American Indian teaching that I heard from an elder at Gichitwaa Kateri.
“There are two wolves that live within us that seek to control us: one hungers for jealousy, greed and power while the other hungers for love, peace and justice.
When asked by a young boy which of the two wolves would be successful, the elder responded, “The one you feed.”
Lou Damiani fed the right wolf.
He walked through life with humility and dignity. He was a man who had the right attitude, an attitude of being, based on his faith in Christ.
It is this same faith we share with him that promises us eternal life, eternal love, and eternal peace.
He once told me that when he drove past St. Joseph's cemetery, he would say to my mother who is buried there, “see you soon June.”
So today as we prepare to lay him to rest next to his beloved wife, we gather not to say “good-bye” but “see you later Lou.”
Thanks Dad for everything!
Reverend Paul Jarvis
April 3, 2012
I am the pastor of St. Joseph's Church in Rosemount, and I had the privilege of presiding at Lou's Celebration of Life. Here is the funeral homily delivered by Lou's son, Deacon Joe Damiani:
Louis J. Damiani
Wisdom 3:1-9, 1 John 3:1-2, Matt 5:1-12
On behalf of Father Paul and the Church of St. Joseph, I want to extend our sincere sympathy to all of Dad's family and friends.
Friends, we are gathered here today to celebrate Dad's life, to share our memories of him and to bring healing and comfort to each other.
Dad had a long life, almost 90 years. Those years were not always easy, but gave him a rich and full life, a life marked by the sign of faith.
Lou Damiani was the fifth of seven children born above his mother and father's grocery store on the east side of St. Paul.
Dad was sickly as a child. Mary and Joseph, his parents, were very worried about his health.
They were concerned that the polluted city air wasn't good for him, so they sent him to his grandparent's farm in Cumberland Wisconsin for some fresh air.
His mother constantly prayed for her son to get well. In time, her prayers we answered.
Dad survived and grew into a strong young man who served as a Naval Aviator aboard the battleship Tennessee.
On June 6, 1945 his mother received a telegram that his plane was missing in the pacific. The situation was bleak, the hope for his recovery slim.
That very day she began a novena to the Blessed Mother, and by the ninth day she learned that he had been spotted by a search plane and was safe aboard the ship.
Dad's mother, a strong and steady Roman Catholic, passed her faith on to him.
Over the years, Dad formed a deep and personal relationship with Christ, who he often referred to as the “man upstairs”.
His faith was the source of his inner strength, and the cornerstone of his life, which he acknowledged every day through his prayers and devotion.
Dad set an example for us, not only through prayer, but also through his words and deeds.
His attitude toward life was one of my greatest inspirations. He valued fairness, compassion, generosity, integrity and respect.
He never bragged or boasted about his accomplishments, which were many.
He set high standards for himself and expected them from others as well. Through his attitudes toward life,
Dad set an example for me of how to live the gospel.
In our reading from the Gospel of Matthew we heard the Beatitudes. Those teachings of Jesus that begin with the words “Blessed be…”
The Beatitudes are often referred to as the “Attitudes of Life” or the “Attitudes of Being.”
They go beyond the Ten Commandments. They do not tell us what to do or not to do, but rather the attitude we should have toward God and others.
We are called to have an attitude of humility, to live humbly and honestly before God and our neighbor.
We are called to have an attitude of compassion for those who suffer, and to support them and help them carry their crosses.
We are called to have an attitude of respect. To honestly admit that there just may be someone better at doing something than we are, and have the wisdom and courage to let it happen.
We are called to have an attitude of fairness. To be just in caring for the poor, the widows, the orphans, the homeless, those less fortunate then we are.
We are called to have an attitude of mercy. To honestly ask God to forgive us in the same way we forgive others.
Dad exemplified all of these attitudes in his dealings with others. I am sure many of you here know first hand what kind of a man he was.
A turning point in Dad's life came in 1955. He had been flying for Northwest Airlines for about three years when he decided to leave the city and move out to the country.
Eventually he and mom decided to buy a dilapidated old sheep farm, east of Rosemount.
They wanted a nice place to raise a family. I was three years old at the time; my brothers had not come along yet.
There was no running water. The only heat was a fuel oil burner and a potbelly stove.
Dad was a source of much amusement to his neighbors. He didn't know much about country life, but he was willing to learn, and he never gave up.
With the help of his neighbors he put in his own plumbing, dug out the basement, installed a natural gas pipeline, and remodeled the house.
He tried raising chickens, then rabbits, and then ducks. He was fairly successful breeding horses. But finally he settled on raising cattle, and at one time he had over a hundred head.
He was generous to those in need, he didn't expect to be praised or recognized. He just quietly worked long hard hours building his dream.
One by one he won people over by gaining their respect and admiration.
He raised his family on that farm, and lived there for more than 55 years.
My mother passed away in 1992, and for the last 19 years Dad lived alone in the house they had built.
Last March he lost everything when his house burned to the ground. He knew he would never be able to rebuild.
The loss of the farm was devastating for Dad. But it did not change his attitude. It just gave him an opportunity to start over.
He renewed old friendships, and made many new ones. He was particularly close to his caregivers who helped him get established in his apartment in town.
He lived there until he passed away at home last week. His caregivers, family and friends were with him.
He lived a full life, a good life, and was very much loved by everyone he knew.
When I think of Dad, I think of an American Indian teaching that I heard from an elder at Gichitwaa Kateri.
“There are two wolves that live within us that seek to control us: one hungers for jealousy, greed and power while the other hungers for love, peace and justice.
When asked by a young boy which of the two wolves would be successful, the elder responded, “The one you feed.”
Lou Damiani fed the right wolf.
He walked through life with humility and dignity. He was a man who had the right attitude, an attitude of being, based on his faith in Christ.
It is this same faith we share with him that promises us eternal life, eternal love, and eternal peace.
He once told me that when he drove past St. Joseph's cemetery, he would say to my mother who is buried there, “see you soon June.”
So today as we prepare to lay him to rest next to his beloved wife, we gather not to say “good-bye” but “see you later Lou.”
Thanks Dad for everything!
jay jorgensen
April 2, 2012
My condolences to Lou's family. Enjoyed working working with Lou during my early years at NWA. Always a pleasure. Smooth flight west Lou.
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Joe Baron
April 2, 2012
Dear Damiani Family,
A very thoughful, professional pilot. My condolences to your family.
Ann Scholz
April 2, 2012
My deepest sympathies to the Damiani family. I knew Lou for quite some time, my husband and I kept our horses at his place for years. Many good memories. Lou was unique.
Fred & Mary Raiche
April 1, 2012
We always looked forward to being on Lou's team. Over the many years, we've been a part of his crew...flying to Asia and Europe. Though long retired, Lou is in our memories...where he will always remain. Our sympathy to Lou's family and friends. We are lucky to have known such a great guy! May Lou now...RIP.
D.W. Yates
April 1, 2012
Lou and I worked together several times in the sixties (NWA) - he, as Captain, me, as co-pilot. He was great to work with, and a very nice man. A good remembrance.
Vic Britt
April 1, 2012
I flew one of my first trips as a new Northwest Airlines second officer on the Boeing 727 with Lou Damiani almost forty-five years ago. I still remember the trip, and how relaxing it was to fly with him. Lou was a very pleasant man, and he treated the people he met respectfully. Wishing you blue skies and fair winds, Lou.
Gary Pisel
April 1, 2012
The thoughts and prayers of Lou's fellow pilots are with you in this time of sorrow. I flew with Lou many times. He was a true professional!
Gary Pisel, President RNPA
Rev. Paul Jarvis
March 31, 2012
On behalf of Lou's fellow parishioners at St. Joseph Church & School in Rosemount, I extend our condolences and prayers for a man who served the community in so many different ways. ~ In his service to our country during World War II (Pacific). ~ In his service after the war as a member of the VFW. ~ In his service to the Catholic Christian Church as a Knight of Columbus. ~ In his service to the parish and school in various leadership roles at St. Joseph's community. ~ We look forward to celebrating how Lou, a first generation American of Italian ancestry, dug deep within himself, and gave of himself to others. ~ A Celebration of Life is meant to learn what we can from a departed Christian, and apply what we can to our own lives, our own discipleship. ~ We, the parishioners of St. Joseph's, thank Lou for showing us the beauty of serving, of gifting oneself for others and a greater cause. ~~~~~ Father Paul Jarvis
Kim Zappa
March 31, 2012
My sympathy to the Damiani family. God bless you all.
Jennie Monno Ranelli
March 31, 2012
God bless the Damiani family. Love, Jennie Monno Ranelli
D.R. Sullivan
March 30, 2012
May your hearts soon be filled with wonderful memories of joyful times together as you celebrate a life well lived.
David Gary
March 30, 2012
I and all the members and friends he left behind at Rosemount VFW 9433 mourn the loss of a great,caring and loyal friend and comrade. Fair Winds and Following Seas Commander Damiani.
Ed mCmENOMY sR.
March 30, 2012
Louis- -May nhe rest in peace.
He was a friend
Sid Sorenson
March 30, 2012
So very sorry to hear of Lou's passing and sending my sympathy, thoughts and prayers to your entire family. I will be with you in spirit.
Sid Sorenson
Naples, Florida
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