Vito J. Labruzzo

Vito J. LaBruzzo, 90, Gladstone, Mo., passed away Tuesday, March 25, 2008. Funeral Mass will be 10 a.m. Friday, March 28, at Holy Rosary Catholic Church, 911 E. Missouri Ave., Kansas City, MO 64106; burial in Mt. Olivet Cemetery. Visitation will be 2-8 p.m. Thursday at Passantino Bros. Funeral Home, 2117 Independence Blvd., Kansas City, MO 64124, where the rosary will be said at 4:30 p.m. Please omit flowers. Vito was born October 11, 1917, in Kansas City, Mo. He was a U.S. Army Air Corps veteran of WWII. Vito owned and operated The Wheel Tavern with his brother Jack for 35 years. He was instrumental in the establishment, operation and success of Chubby's Restaurant. He was a founding member of the American Sons of Columbus. Vito was preceded in death by his wife of 55 years and the love of his life, Jeanette (Stasi) LaBruzzo, in 1997; his parents, Nick and Mamie (Lascuola) LaBruzzo; and brother, Jack LaBruzzo. Survivors include his children and their spouses, Anne and John Mandacina, Teresa and Anthony "Butch" Spino, Nick and Maria LaBruzzo; grandchildren, Teresa and Mike Mange, Joe Vic and Christy Mandacina, John Anthony and Anna Mandacina, Anthony Joe Spino and Kymberli Cutler, Vito Michael Spino, Vito Joseph and Michelle LaBruzzo, Nicky Ralph LaBruzzo; great- grandchildren, Larry Mandacina, Nina Mange, Michael Mange Jr., JoAnna, Rosemary and Kristopher Mandacina, Zachary and Nicholas Martinez, Isabella Mandacina, John Mandacina III; sisters and brother-in-law, Angeline Sirna, Joe and Sarah Gargotta, Mary Scavuzzo; sisters-in-law, Shirley LaBruzzo and Clarene Stasi; and aunt, Betty Lascuola. Vito's pallbearers will be his grandsons. Vito's love for life and kind-hearted generous nature will be remembered always. His love for his family and complete devotion to his wife Jeanette is only part of what makes him so special to us all. He gave us so many happy memories with his love for a good time and all of those memorable weekends at the Lake. He will be sorely missed and remain forever in our hearts!! We Love You! (Arr.: Passantino Bros. Funeral Home, 816-471-2844.)