Name: Funeral service for Alfred Edward UNGARO
Start: 2025-02-21T18:00:00.000Z
Location: Hennessey Funeral Home & Crematory - Division Street

Alfred peacefully went to be with the Lord on January 29th, 2025, at the age of 89. Alfred Edward Ungaro of Spokane, Washington, was born on January 24th, 1936, in Natal (Middletown), British Columbia, Canada. He was the youngest of four children born to Giuseppe Ninno and Palma Emma. Alfred graduated from Michel Natal Central School and later married Linda Volpatti in 1967. In their 40 years of marriage, they had three children who blessed them with seven incredible grandchildren.

Alfred was full of life and a great husband, father, and Nono, and was a favorite uncle (Uncle Doots) to many. Alfred moved from Canada to Spokane in 1956 and worked at the Great Northern and Burlington Northern Railways for over 34 years. He loved sports – playing, coaching, and watching them, especially ice hockey, softball/baseball, bowling, golf, fishing, bocce, and many others. Alfred always stayed close to his extended family, regularly travelling to visit them in Canada or hosting them in Spokane.

Alfred is survived by his children, Peter (Brenda), Michele (Russ), and David (Tammy); and his grandchildren, Taryn, Cole (now deceased), Ryan, Kellen, Carah, Caleb, and Sarah. He was sadly predeceased by his wife (Linda); parents (Emma and Ninno); brother, Orlando (Francis); and sisters, Eleanor (Ray) and Ida (Bill).

A funeral service celebrating Alfred's life will take place at 10am, on Friday, February 21st, at Hennessey Funeral Home, 2203 N. Division in Spokane, WA, with committal service (Holy Cross Cemetery Moseuleum Chapel) following. All are invited to join the family. We will also be hosting a Celebration of Life event later in the spring/summer. Alfred specifically requested to not have flowers at his funeral, so in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Nels Venerus Youth Hockey Scholarship Foundation at P.O. Box 48073, Spokane, WA 99228 (nelsvenerusfoundation.org).

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Spokesman-Review on Feb. 9, 2025.

Memories and Condolences
for Alfred UNGARO

3 Entries

F. James (Alfred) Greco

February 13, 2025

It´s raining here tonight in Southern California setting an appropriate tone for Fred´s passing, but one just the opposite of how I remember him, my compare.

He came into my life, when I was young; when I was struck by his smile, warmth, sense of humor and caring.

The people around me, like Fred, were either athletes-like him-or worshippers of them. I was a nerd. For proof, imagine a 13-year-old kid playing his first (and only season of hockey) wearing figure skates and used hockey gear, died pink by a hot-water washing mother.

Anyone else with Fred´s athletic talent might have just laughed me off. Instead, without doing so in an obvious way, he put a literal and figurative arm around me and made me feel whole. I couldn´t put words to that then; not sure I can even today. But I knew I wanted and needed him as my Confirmation godfather, my compare ... and I still do.

And he didn´t have that kind of impact on just me. I watched him as I grew older nurturing young boys, regardless of their athletic ability. Always joking, teaching, consoling, understanding.

Even more touching, to me, was the way he treated my father, a wildly enthusiastic hockey fan with no real knowledge of the game or much else of life except hard work. I think Fred saw in my father, what he saw in me: a person yearning to find a place.

Fred tabbed my dad to be the "coach" of a senior rec-league team that Fred and several other men from Hillyard assembled. They didn´t need a coach. They didn´t need my father. Yet Fred recognized that my father needed them.

That was Fred in a nutshell.

Over the years, we lost communication with each other. Life seems to go that way sometimes. But I never forgot what he meant to me as a boy, a young man, and today.

Although I call myself James these days, I never changed my full legal name: Frank James Alfred Greco. I took that third name for a damned good reason. I´m so glad that I did, and that part of me-the part that Fred helped me define-will always be there as a reminder of what a fine man, friend, and compare he was.

Rest in love and peace, dear Freddie.

Joe Speranzi

February 9, 2025

So sad to hear of Freddie´s passing. I was fortunate enough to play softball with him on the Murphy Tavern´s City championship team in the early 70´s (best bunter I´ve ever seen ... he could drag bunt right handed) and I was honored to be his assistant little league coach. His work with the kids was inspirational. What an amazing man. My heartfelt condolences & prayers go out to his family.
Joe Speranzi

Matthew Ymer

February 9, 2025

#RIPAlfredUngaro
I knew Al from Mary Queen Parish, along with his mother, Emma. Al had a long rich history at Mary Queen as well as being a great neighbor in the Minnehaha neighborhood.

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