Clara Lombardo

Clara Lombardo, 85, passed away October 7, 2006, at North Kansas City Hospital. Mass of Christian Burial will be Tuesday, October 10, 2006 at 10 a.m. at Holy Rosary Church, 911 E. Missouri Ave., Kansas City, MO. Burial Mt. St. Mary's Cemetery. Visitation Monday, October 9, 2006 from 3-8 p.m. at Sebbeto's Funeral Home, 901 E. 5th St., with a Rosary at 7 p.m. Clara, the second of four children, was born at home, in Kansas City, MO, a daughter of Sicilian immigrants Louis and Josephine (Russo) DeGrado. She was preceded in death by her parents and youngest brother, Joe DeGrado. She married Nicholas Lombardo on April 22, 1942. They were married for 64 years. Clara lived her entire life in the Columbus Park area of Kansas City. As a young girl she played softball with the Columbus Park Girls Team, finishing first for 3 years. She played cleanup hitter, pitcher and second base. She also played softball for the Jewish Institute. Clara loved sports of all kinds. She enjoyed field hockey, softball, basketball, the Duck Club (swimming), and bowling. For many years, she bowled on Holy Rosary teams. Her high game was 283. She and Nick also enjoyed dancing every week, attending the "Cantor Shag" at the Democratic Hall and Vaccaro Hall. The jitterbug was her specialty. Clara loved to travel with Nick to UNICO conventions. He favorite trip was to San Francisco, where she enjoyed delicious prawns at La Bella's restaurant. She was one of the first ladies to work on the Holy Rosary St. Joseph Table. She often volunteered her cooking for the children in the cafeteria. She was President of the PTA. She worked as cashier/bookkeeper for 21 years at the Holy Rosary Credit Union. Clara had two passions, her family and her cooking. Her family meant everything to her. One word that describes this lovely woman was "GIVING." She gave throughout her entire life, to her husband, her son, her grandchildren, her great grandchildren, her family members and her friends. Those fortunate to have known her say she was not only giving, but was a really good person. She was known for her meatballs and sauce and you were truly fortunate if you sampled her cooking. No visitor ever left without being offered something to eat. She loved watching the Food Channel, although she laughingly admitted the recipes didn't always turn out like on TV. She leaves behind to share memories of her life's celebrations, her loving husband Nicholas Lombardo, her beloved son, Sam and his wife, Kathleen, her cherished grandchildren David and Joan Lombardo, John and Stacy Lombardo, Theresa Lombardo, Mary Ann Lombardo, great grandchildren David, Ashley, Regina and Nicholas, sister Josephine Palazzo, brother Stino DeGrado, brother-in-law and sister-in-law Anthony and Marie Lombardo, nieces and nephews. The family requests no flowers. We love you Mommo! (Arr: Sebbeto Funeral Home 816-221-4400).