Vincenzo La Fronza

On December 1, 1948, Giuseppe La Fronza and Arcangela (Martulli) La Fronza welcomed their 2nd son Vincenzo. Raised in Carbonara, Italia, Vince was always surrounded by his 3 brothers and 1 sister. Growing up, he always was hands-on, whether working at his job carving wooden caskets or getting water from the local fontana for the house. Vince would give some of his hard earned money to his mom, but also would save some in a tiled hole under the bed. He loved his family and his home, but the American dream was calling him. On February 27, 1966, along with his siblings and cousins, the 17 year old embarked on a ship to New York. March 9, 1966, they arrived at Ellis Island. Some family was already in Chicago, so that became his home until the end. On Ohio Street, Vince met the love of his life, Matilda (Squeo). On their first date, they shared a sundae; 1 year later they married (almost 47 years) and had three girls, Angela, Anna, and Jennifer.

He was a hard worker, staying at Williams Electronics for 33 years when they closed down. He continued his manual labor working at the Hyatt and Wickes. Outside of work, Vince was always creating masterpieces at home, whether outside the house with his love of nature or fixing things around the house. Things always got done with love.

Vince had many passions: reading the newspaper, going for bike rides, and music. Music was his language of communication. Tutu, as his family adoringly called him, was always singing or playing his beloved trumpet. Vince loved to perform, whether it was at festivals or weddings or in his basement room decorated with pictures of him singing it his way. Often, you would hear him singing to his mamma, wife, children and grandchildren.

His grandchildren were his flowers that he loved immensely. He would watch them on days off, pick them up from school and put them to work making wine the old fashioned way by stomping on grapes in a bucket. But, he treated them like royalty. He had a sense of humor with them that only a grandparent shares, such as providing Giuseppina with a bell to ring if she wanted anything from him, such as his cooking concoctions. Antonella was always the one that would sing with him. They would sing, “Let’s go check the mail,” while they ran down the long driveway. Antonella and nonno would sing Con Te Partiro and end it with a zan zan sound. Vin was the boy he never had. He would take him for rides on his riding lawnmower. Nonnovino would always go to their events, proud and with his little camcorder.

Vince was a loved man by many. He had a gentle spirit, a zest for life, a talkative personality and an awareness of how blessed he was. He was a giving man until the end. When he was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, he gave that cancer such a fighting stance. Until the end, he would say, I’m going to live a long life, while enduring painful treatments. He would sing to the doctors and nurses and always share that contagious laugh. Vince was ready to go home to God, to see his mamma again; but, that didn’t stop him from singing My Way one last time. His melodic voice will always be in the hearts of many. On May 25, 2020, Vince was called Home to sing as an angel in Heaven’s Choir.

Please join us as we pay our last respects to Vincenzo La Fronza. In lieu of flowers, donations in Vincenzo La Fronza’s name to research for Multiple Mylomea (https://tribute.themmrf.org/VincenzoLaFronzacantasempre) are appreciated.