Obituary of Sylvia Lombardi

Mrs. Sylvia Lombardi 82, of Newland, North Carolina, died September 23, 2008. She was born on November 30, 1925 in Bronx, New York. She was the youngest of ten siblings of Italian immigrants Domenico and Filomena DeBenedictis. Following her graduation from high school she married her childhood sweetheart Mario R. Lombardi, Sr., who preceded her in death in May 2007. Sylvia was an avid tennis player for over 40 years and for over 15 years taught many others the love of this game at the Land Harbor Tennis Association in Newland, N.C. She was an accomplished seamstress, artist, and quilter. She was an avid reader and passionate about the beauty and wonder of the North Carolina mountains. She retired to Ormond Beach, Florida in 1969 and moved to Newland, North Carolina in 1991. A devoted wife and mother Mrs. Lombardi is survived by a brother Richard DeBenedictis of Long Island, New York, her daughters Leslie Morganti and Stephanie Lombardi of New Port Richey, Florida and her son Mario R. Lombardi, Jr. of Snellville, Georgia, their spouses Ralph Morganti and Laurie Lombardi. She has six grandchildren Danielle Katz, Paul Morganti, Lisa and Christopher Lombardi, and Kristina and Ellice Hodges, four great grandchildren Virginia and Nicholas Morganti, Alexander and Vincent Katz. Her friends and family recognized her as a wonderful human being and she will always be a beautiful memory to all who knew her. The memorial service will be on Saturday, September 27, 2008 at 10:00 a.m. at the Land Harbor Recreation Building, 22 Land Harbor Plaza, Newland, N.C. 28657, followed by refreshments at the Lombardi residence 26 Grossbeak Road, Land Harbors, Newland, N.C. The family request in lieu of flowers that memorials be made to The American Heart Association: PO Box 840692, Dallas, TX 75284-0692. Austin & Barnes Funeral Home & Crematory is serving the Lombardi family.