Mrs Lillian May Ferlita's Obituary
FERLITA, Lillian May Diaz, 94, passed away January 8, 2007, at Memorial Hospital. She was born on May 5, 1912 in Tampa. She was the daughter of Ceferino and Rosa Canevari Diaz. Lillian was preceded in death by her brother Walter Alfred Diaz and Joseph Frank Ferlita, her beloved husband of 34 years. Joseph and Lillian were members of the pioneer Ferlita Family in Ybor City. Their bakery, Ferlita and Sons (La Joven Francesa), remains even today as the Ybor City State Museum. Lillian was raised in West Tampa and attended the Academy of the Holy Names. As a young lady, Lillian worked at the Garcia & Vega cigar factory where she hand-rolled cigars. She also worked as a secretary in her father and uncle's cigar factory (Andres Diaz). She was manager of Most Holy Name and Our Lady of Perpetual Help cafeterias. As a wife and mother, Lillian enjoyed baking, cooking, and working in her garden. She was a professional seamstress and had a great hand for knitting and crocheting. Lillian was a member of Most Holy Name Church and belonged to the Rosary and Altar Societies. She was a member of the Centro Asturiano de Tampa and Las Damas del Centro Asturiano where she was a member of the court. She was a beautiful woman and participated in several local beauty pageants. Lillian is survived by her son, Frank J. Ferlita, Attorney, U.S. Department of HUD (retired); daughter, Hillsborough County Commissioner Rose V. Ferlita; sister, Virginia Diaz Conner; Paul L. Pacy (who was like a son); niece, Rosalind Orihuela; nephew, Walter Diaz, Jr. and grand nieces Nicolle Sequeiera and husband Gaby, Natalie Orihuela, great-grand nephew, Nicolas Sequeiera, and special friends Margaret Bohann, Rose Scaglione and Amelia Taylor. The family will receive friends on Wednesday, January 10, 2007 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Boza and Roel Funeral Home, 4730 N. Armenia Ave. with the recitation of the rosary at 8 p.m. There will be a Requiem Mass on Thursday, January 11, at 10 a.m. at Christ the King Catholic Church, 821 S. Dale Mabry, where she was a parishioner. Father Ralph Argentino will officiate. Interment will follow at Myrtle Hill Memorial Park, 4207 E. Lake Ave., Tampa, where Lillian will find peace next to her husband, Joseph. Pallbearers include John Cuesta, Jr., Walter Diaz, Jr., Angelo Lorenzo, A. Thomas Marcinowski, Charlie Miranda, and Paul L. Pacy. Honorary Pallbearers include Jerry and Patty Alexander, Paul and Pauline Brownlee, Delores Craig, Rodolfo Eichberg, M.D. and Yvette Eichberg, Deanna Ferlita, Danny Registar, and George Sanchez, D.D.S. The family would like to extend their sincere appreciation to Sam Diasti, M.D., Debbie Down, R.N., Mary Fanning, healthcare manager, Luisa Fernandez and Janet Leyva, healthcare aides for their care and compassion. In lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution either to Las Damas Centro Asturiano, 1913 Nebraska Ave., Tampa, FL 33602 or Mary Lee's House (a child advocacy and protection center to be built in West Tampa), 300 West Platt Street, Suite 100, Tampa, FL 33606.
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