Submitted by: Mary Jo Koran
August
18, 1997
| Bamber,
founder of city's oldest restaurant, dies at 87 SOUTH
BEND -- James J. Bamber, the founder and operator of
South Bend's oldest restaurant, Sunny Italy, died of
natural causes in the home of his son at Diamond Lake on
Saturday. He
was 87. Mr. Bamber, with his wife, Josephine, owned and
operated Sunny Italy Cafe at 601 N. Niles Ave., for 57
years. They also resided at that address. Mr.
Bamber was born in New York City on Dec. 14, 1909, the
first of four sons of Joseph and Rose Bamber. Within a
year, they had moved to the west side of South Bend. Mr.
Bamber's three brothers, John, Louie and Bill, still
reside in South Bend. Mr.
Bamber began his work life at Studebaker when he was 19.
He worked for Studebaker for 20 years. On
Oct. 16, 1937, Mr. Bamber married Josephine Marie
Papandria. They had four children: James S. (Butch) of
South Bend, Dennis of Diamond Lake, Josephine Elliott of
Granger and P.J. of South Bend. All survive. Mr.
Bamber was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Parish and of
the Elks. Visitation
will be today at Hickey Funeral Home, 17131 Cleveland
Road, from 2-8 p.m. A prayer service will be conducted
there at 4 p.m. The
Funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday in St. Joseph
Church on Hill Street and LaSalle Avenue. Burial
will take place in Highland Cemetery, Portage Avenue. |
James J. Bamber
Dec. 14, 1909 - Aug.
16, 1997
SOUTH
BEND - James J. Bamber, 87, of 601 N. Niles Avenue, South Bend,
Ind., died of natural causes early Saturday morning, Aug. 16, at
his home on Diamond Lake, Cassopolis, Mich.
He
was born in New York City on Dec. 14, 1909, the first of four
sons to Joseph and Rose (Cammorona) Bamber. Within a year, the
family moved to South Bend, taking up residency on the southwest
side. He has three brothers, John, Louie and Bill, all currently
residing in South Bend.
At
age 16, Mr. Bamber began what would be a 20-year career at
Studebaker, where he eventually served as a critical occupation
machinist during the war years.
On
Oct. 16, 1937, James Joseph Bamber married Josephine Marie
Papandria, his lifelong mate, who survives him. Together, this
team of ''Jimmy'' and ''Josie'' would own and successfully
operate, for 57 years, South Bend's oldest restaurant, The Sunny
Italy Cafe, located on Niles Avenue.
James
and Josephine had four children: James S. ''Butch'' and wife
Shirley of South Bend, Dennis R. and wife Ginny of Diamond Lake,
Josephine Elliott and husband Wib of Granger, Ind., and P.J. of
South Bend. Mr. Bamber is further survived by his three
grandchildren: Bridget Elliott of Chicago, Ill., Jim and Kate
Elliott, both of South Bend; and by two step-grandchildren: Mrs.
Nicole Hertel of Mishawaka, Ind., and Gary Hull of Atlanta, Ga.
Mr.
Bamber was a lifelong member of The Elks and of St. Joseph
Catholic Parish in South Bend.
Funeral
arrangements are entrusted to the Hickey Funeral Home on Cleveland
Road, where friends may call from 2 to 8 p.m. today. A prayer
service will also be held at 4 p.m. today.
The
funeral Mass will be offered at 10 a.m. on Tuesday in St. Joseph
Church at Hill Street and LaSalle Avenue in South Bend. Interment
will be in Highland Cemetery on Portage Avenue.
In
honor of their beloved husband, father and grandfather, the
family asks that donations be made to the Educational Fund of St.
Joseph Catholic Church.
He
gave us strength, he gave us courage, but most of all he gave us
love. We will miss him dearly.