Obituary of Simone (Sam) Lagravinese

Simone (Sam) Lagravinese Obituary

Born: July 30, 1924

Died: November 29, 2021

Simone (Sam) Lagravinese passed away peacefully on the morning of November 29th at his home at All Seasons Assisted Living in Oro Valley, AZ. He was 97 years old.

Although Sam’s time in Arizona was short, he was happy to be surrounded by his stepsons Kerry and Kraig and their wives, Maria, and Denise, and new friends. Family and food meant everything to Sam and only days before his passing, Sam was preparing a lobster meal for his family. Those are the memories we will forever cherish.

Sam was a decorated World War II veteran who fought in the Battle of the Bulge and was awarded both a Bronze Star and the French Legion of Honor medal. He spent 138 days on the front line as a member of the 303rd Combat Engineering Battalion, a unit of the 78th Infantry Division. Sam was a jeep driver who had to risk his life to look for mines on the battlefield during one of the most historic WWII battles. He was technically one of the first U.S. servicemen to enter into Germany by crossing the Ludendorff Bridge at Remagen.

Sam is survived by his wife of 35 years, Ethel, as well as his sister Madeline Indelicato, his stepchildren Kerry Kessel and his wife, Maria, Kristine Bickford and her husband, Bruce Miller, and Kraig Kessel and his wife Denise, as well as six grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, six nieces, and three nephews. Sam and Ethel moved to Arizona in May after living in southeast Florida for most of their lives.

A military memorial with full military honors is to be held at Adair Funeral Homes Avalon Chapel, 8090 N. Northern Ave, Tucson, AZ on December 11 at 9 am. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Agape Hospice, 4400 E. Broadway Blvd, Suite 400, Tucson, AZ 85711 (AgapeHospiceAZ.com). Sam will be laid to rest at Arizona Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery at Marana, AZ in a private service.

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