Mr. Raymond G. LaBarbera

FRANKFORT - Mr. Raymond G. LaBarbera, age 78, went home to the Lord on Friday, January 22, 2021 when he passed away with those he loved most in his heart. Born in Utica on January 31, 1942, Raymond was the son of the late Girolamo “Jerry” and Rose LaBarbera. He was a graduate of T.R. Proctor High School/Class of 1961. A proud veteran of the United States Army, Ray served his country with honor stationed stateside. He and his wife, the former Rose Marie Zongrone shared over 55 years together loving each other all their days. Ray worked at Griffiss Air Force Base as a snow plow operator for the runways, and lastly in the Maintenance Department, retiring after 30 years of service. He was a dependable husband who enjoyed his home and the traditions of our area. As a dad, he shared special times and routines with his children, and he loved when everyone got together and celebrated any occasion. Ray was a man of simple means and never wanted very much. His hard work ethic made for a man who took care of his children and found happiness and family fun in the comfort of his house. He enjoyed visiting relatives and friends, and taking rides and had an affinity for motorcycles He enjoyed a good meal and his wife always made a point to please his palate. Ray enjoyed making homemade wine with his brother-in-law, nephew, and son and sharing with loved ones. As years went on, he and his son Raymond made wine together, fine-tuning the wine-making process, along with making their personalized labels and shrink wrap upon the cork which never took away the authenticity of good ole’ homemade wine, and the bonding between a father and his son! Another passionate past time that Ray was fond of was playing Bingo at various venues along with his wife and his girls, and when it wasn’t as comfortable for him, they brought the game to their home where the wagers and emotions were high, sometimes resulting in yelling at the bingo caller (his daughter)! Among the many memories and highlights of his life was the event of seeing Earth, Wind & Fire perform at the casino, a gift presented to him by his family. He was the go-to guy for everything; everyone knew they could count on him. He had a lifelong friendship with the late Vinny Maugeri, Tony Meola, and Frankie Meola, mutual bonds that were never forgotten. The camaraderie and respect they shared was priceless. He was grateful for the visits and support from Alberto and Emma Mendez, John and Margerite Edwards, and Rosemary Vasile, who all reminded him of the meaning of true friendship. Ray was a parishioner of St. Anthony & St. Agnes Church and attended Mass when he was well. His faith was always in his heart. Ray is survived by his wife, Rose Marie; his children and their spouses, Renee and Art Newman, Nicole and John Abel, Raymond J. and Cristina LaBarbera; Marc Talerico, Michael Talerico, and the memory of his infant son, Aaron LaBarbera who passed away in 1976; his grandchildren, Gabrielle, Mikenzie, and Natalie Newman; Julian and Roman LaBarbera; and Marcus Talerico; and his sister and brother-in-law, Rosalie and Carmen D’Ambro. He also leaves his nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, and cousins. He was predeceased by his brother and sister-in-law, Anthony and Anna LaBarbera; sister, Mary J. LaBarbera; and his cousin, Donald Jones with whom he was very close. The family extends sincere appreciation to Dr. Emile Wassel, and Dr. Yekaterina Kashtanova for their thoughtfulness and compassion. In keeping with Raymond’s wishes, his family will honor and commemorate his life at a private time. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Ray’s name may be directed to Feed Our Vets online at https://feedourvets.org/contact or by mail to PO Box 1, NY Mills, NY 13417. During this time of social distancing that we are all experiencing, please take a moment to connect with Ray’s family through the “Memories” section of his obituary. Our prayers go out to all as a sign of our continued support.

Mr. Raymond G. LaBarbera

January 31, 1942 - January 22, 2021