Laura Luzietti

Born Laura Pozza, April 22nd 1932, in Lusiana, Italy, of Gino and Maria Pozza; and named after the poem “Laura” by Petrarca. The family moved to Bassano del Grappa in 1936 after her father’s death in a motorcycle accident. She attended boarding school established by the Italian government in Fano on the Adriatic sea to assist widowed school teachers with children for five years. She returned to Bassano to witness WWII being fought. WWII provided her first contact with Americans. She remembered the formations of Boeing B17 Flying Fortress’ heavy bombers flying over Bassano to attack other targets. Many years later at an air show in Huntsville, Alabama, and without provocation, she said, “I hear a Fortessa Volante (Flying Fortress)!” and sure enough, this vintage bomber descended from the sky and rolled to a stop in front of her. After the war ended, Laura renewed her association with the American Army as a result of her brother Tony’s employment as a technician with the American Army in Italy. Tony brought his American friends home with him from time to time, giving the family the opportunity to know the Americans. Laura started to learn English and even though she loved Italian opera and other music, she found room for the songs of Elvis Presley and Hank Williams. Eventually she moved to Vicenza with her mother and was employed by the U.S. Army as a personnel clerk. One day her future husband, Captain John Luzietti came into the personnel office for in-processing. Laura became acquainted with the newly arrived Captain and they were married four months later on April 11, 1964 in Vicenza. The wedding reception was held in Montecchio-Maggiore, Italy, the site of two medieval castles reputed to be the rival family homes of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. One of the castles had been renovated and was functioning as a restaurant, which was where the wedding reception took place. This was the beginning of a 51 year marriage with Laura living in many places during and after John’s military service, places such as Vicenza, Italy; Aberdeen, Maryland; Altheimer, Arkansas; El Paso, Texas; Fayetteville, Arkansas; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Heidelberg and Zweibrucken, Germany; Richmond, Virginia; Huntsville, Alabama; and after John’s retirement from the military, Tallahassee, Florida. She was very proud that Earth Day and her birthday were the same; April 22nd She dearly loved the plants and animals of the earth. Animals sensed that she was their friend and seemed to willingly come to her for help. She rescued a baby male cardinal and after he refused to leave, cared for him for almost 20 years. She rescued and found homes for such creatures as a parrot and a fighting rooster. And all the dogs and cats in the neighborhood soon learned that she was a soft touch. Laura passed away quietly January 12th 2016 at Hollywood Memorial Regional Hospital in south Florida after a long illness. She is survived by her husband, John; a daughter, Maria; son, Gino; four grandchildren; Alessandro and Arianna De Guevara; and Lucas and Logan Luzietti; a sister, Marisa Lich of El Paso Texas; and two brothers; Antonio (Tony) Pozza, Panama City, Republic of Panama; and Gino Pozza, Milan, Italy. She was dearly loved and her passing leaves a gigantic void in many lives. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 AM, Tuesday, February 16th at the Co- Cathedral of St. Thomas More in Tallahassee. Burial will follow at Tallahassee National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Jane Goodall Institute, www.janegoodall.org. Kelly Barber with Bevis Funeral Home of Tallahassee (www.bevisfh.com or 850/385-2193) is assisting the Luzietti family with their arrangements.

Tributes

Laura Luzietti

April 22, 1932 - January 12, 2016