Samuel A. Guarisco

Samuel A. Guarisco

SHREVEPORT, LA - Sam was born May 7, 1927, son of Anthony Guarisco and Lena Ferlito Guarisco Ciaccio. He passed away after a brief illness on October 12, 2009 at LifeCare Pierremont Hospital in Shreveport, LA.

Visitation will be Friday, October 16, 2009, from 5-7 p.m. with a Vigil at 7:00 p.m. at Rose-Neath Marshall Street Funeral Home, Shreveport, LA. Funeral services will be at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, October 17, 2009, at St. John Berchmans Cathedral. Officiating will be Monsignor Earl Provenza, Father Charles Glorioso and Father Joseph Kallookalam. Burial will follow in Forest Park Cemetery, St. Vincent Avenue.

Sam was a lifelong resident of Shreveport. He attended Fair Park High School and Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, LA, where he studied Medical Technology. In 1960, he opened Medical Arts Laboratory, and served the medical community throughout the 1960's and 1970's. Always a hard worker, while operating the lab, he simultaneously owned and operated two drive-in restaurants, known as The Humdinger, and two full service restaurants known to Shreveporters as Sammy's. Sammy's Restaurant on North Market was a Shreveport icon in operation for over 40 years.

Sam was a former member of the Knights of Columbus, the Shreveport Chamber of Commerce, and was an active member of the Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE).

He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Mamie Renda Guarisco, of Shreveport, LA; and his children, Joyce Padgett and husband, Don, of Baton Rouge, LA, their two children, Matt Padgett and Scott Padgett; Kathleen Petitto and husband, Frank, Jr., of Bossier City, LA, their three children, Dr. Francis Petitto, III, Jennifer Petitto and Phillip Petitto; Susan Hardy and husband, Dr. Robert Hardy, of Birmingham, AL, their two children, Neil Hardy and Kathryn Hardy; Samuel A. Guarisco, Jr. and wife, Kellye, of Dallas, TX, their two children, Cole Guarisco and Natalie Guarisco; Gene B. Guarisco and wife, Dr. Margaret Guarisco, of Tuscaloosa, AL, their three children, Rachel Guarisco, Amanda Guarisco and Joseph Guarisco; also a host of dearly loved friends, both new and lifelong. He will be sorely missed.

Honoring Sam, as pallbearers will be his grandsons and honorary pallbearers will be his beloved granddaughters.

The family would like to thank the many friends, family members and customers who have supported and loved him over the course of Sam's illness and throughout his life.

Special thanks to Sister Suni, Sister Sanji and the staff at Christus Schumpert Highland; LifeCare Hospital staff, especially nurses, Sherry, Lois, Suzanne, Jessica, Jeff and David. Also, special thanks to Dr. Robert Hernandez, Dr. Robert McCoy, Dr. Sreedhara Alla and Dr. Sanders Hearne. Rose-Neath Funeral Home

Marshall St. Chapel 222-0348