Fernando Verlezza Zucchini

With deep sorrow and love, we announce the passing of Fernando Verlezza Zucchini, who entered eternal rest on March 4, 2026, in New Orleans, Louisiana, at the age of 91.

Fernando was born on November 3, 1934, in Anzio, Rome, Italy. As part of the first generation of Italian migrants who rebuilt their lives after World War II, he carried with him the resilience, determination, and hope that defined so many who left Italy in search of a better future. He later became part of the Verlezza family legacy that helped build a new life in Venezuela, where the family worked tirelessly to create opportunities for the generations that followed.

Fernando was a hardworking man devoted to his family and deeply committed to maintaining the unity and strength of the Verlezza family across countries and generations. His life was marked by sacrifice, perseverance, and a profound dedication to ensuring that his children and grandchildren would have opportunities that his own generation had to fight so hard to achieve.

He was a loving father and grandfather and will be remembered for his strong work ethic, his values, and his devotion to family.

Fernando is survived by his children: Gemma Verlezza, Gianna Maria Verlezza, and Enrique Alfonso Verlezza.

He was preceded in death by his son Fernando Enrique Verlezza, who passed away on February 27, 1997.

He is also survived by his beloved grandchildren: Maria Fernanda Verlezza, Maria Gabriela Davila, Michelle Samantha Jackson-Ortega, Diego Alarcon Verlezza, Gemma Mariana Ortega, Flavio Isaac Ortega, Fernando Adrian Verlezza, and Flavia Elise Verlezza.

Fernando's legacy continues through his great-grandchildren: Ashlynn Nycole Ellis, Matis Briden, Ariana Rose Jackson, and Millie Graham, who is expected soon.

Fernando's memory lives on through the generations of the Verlezza family who will continue to honor his legacy of hard work, unity, and perseverance.

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Family Tribute

The following tribute was written by Virgilio Francisco Verlezza and is shared here in honor of Fernando Verlezza Zucchini.

Yesterday, the last Verlezza of the first generation of Italian migrants departed from this world. They were all great workers and entrepreneurs who gave everything for Venezuela. In this country they built their dreams-dreams that World War II in Italy had taken away from them. They arrived with a small suitcase that held very few material things, but it was full of hope, dreams, and the desire to build and prosper.

They all achieved their dreams and formed a family in Venezuela, planting the first generation of the Verlezza descendants there. We are proud to carry the surname of our parents, who gave everything so that we could have what they could not-an excellent education.

The first migrants from Anzio and Nettuno arrived in 1947: Ludovico, Alberto, Luciano, Walter, Franco, and Fernando, who was the last to leave this world in 2026. It is now up to us, their children, to continue and carry on the legacy of the Verlezza family.

May God keep them all in His glory, and may they rest in peace.

I woke up at 1 a.m. because I could not sleep without writing these words. Fernando, at 91 years of age, you can now rest in peace, knowing that all your descendants will remember you as a man who worked very hard for his family and who kept us united even though you lived far from Caracas, at Puerta de Maraven in Punto Fijo, in the state of Falcón.

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Ayer partió de este mundo el ultimo Verlezza de la primera generación de migrantes italianos. Todos fueron grandes trabajadores y emprendedores que dieron todo por Venezuela. En este país construyeron sus sueños, que la segunda guerra mundial en Italia les había arrebatado. llegaron con una pequeña maleta que en su interior tenía muy pocas cosas materiales, pero estaba llena de esperanzas, de sueños, de ganas de construir y de prosperar.

Todos lograron sus sueños, y formaron en Venezuela una familia, lograron sembrar la primera descendencia de los Verlezza. Estamos orgullosos de llevar ese apellido de nuestros padres que dieron todo por lograr lo que ellos no pudieron tener, una excelente educación.

Llegaron los primeros migrantes de Anzio y Nettuno en el año 1947, Ludovico, Alberto, Luciano, Walter, Franco y Fernando fue el último que dejo este mundo en el 2026. Nos queda a sus hijos seguir y continuar con el legado de los Verlezza.

Dios los tenga a todos en su gloria y paz a sus restos. Me desperté a la 1 am ya que no podía dormir sin escribir estas palabras. Fernando a tus 91 años puedes descansar en paz ya que todos los descendientes te recordaremos como el hombre que trabajo muy duro por su familia y de mantenernos unidos a pesar de que vivías lejos de Caracas; en la Puerta de Maraven en Punto Fijo, Estado Falcon.