Submitted by: Dan Rich

Tina C. Zappia

Aug. 15, 1925 - Aug. 26, 1999

South Bend Tribune 8/28/1999

Tina C. (Leone) Zappia, 74, of South Bend, Ind., died on Thursday, Aug. 26, in South Bend.

She was born on Aug. 15, 1925, in Naples, Italy, coming to the United States in 1946.

On June 9, 1946, she married Joseph M. Zappia.

In 1951, Joseph and Tina Zappia opened the Villa Capri Italian Restaurant which reflected her native Italy, a bit of Italy in South Bend. The restaurant was very popular in the mid-`50s and `60s and early `70s, until the business was sold in July 1974.

In the early `50s people thought of Italian food as only spaghetti and meatballs. Mrs. Zappia took great pride in her Italian heritage and loved to introduce the great foods of Italy and of her native Naples. Dinners such as Scampi, Fettuccine, Tortolini, the great veal dishes and the Fra Diavolos were unknown, and were introduced by the Villa Capri Restaurant to our South Bend.

The Villa Capri Restaurant received a number of culinary awards which were a reflection of Tina's hard work. In 1968 Tina and Joe were invited to come to Notre Dame by the famed athletic director, Moose Krause, who was a great friend of Tina and Joe's, and organize the catering service at the new Athletic Convocation Center and take responsibility for the food service. They were under Director John Plouf at Notre Dame. Tina discovered friends in Father Hesburgh and Father Joyce. Father Hesburgh enjoyed speaking Italian with Tina. Through Father Hesburgh Mrs. Zappia had the opportunity to be introduced to three United States presidents, and to many distinguished statesmen and heads of state from around the world. With her food service at Notre Dame, she has received hundreds of letters thanking her for her fine services and tasty dinners.

Mrs. Zappia was a devoted mother, devoted wife and businesswoman.

She is survived by two sons, Anthony M. (Barbara) Zappia and Mario J. (Jean) Zappia, both South Bend attorneys; and seven grandchildren, Ashley, Kyle, Mario Jr., John, Ryan, Anna and Heather; as well as by her husband, Joseph, and her sister, Marie Zappia of South Bend. In Naples, Italy, she is also survived by her brothers, Loris and Silvio, and by her sister, Elsa Scoriaorro in Milan.

She was preceded in death by two brothers and a sister in Italy.

Funeral arrangements are entrusted to the Hickey Funeral Home, 17131 Cleveland Road, South Bend, where friends may call from 2 to 8 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 29, where a prayer service will also be held at 4 p.m. on Sunday.

The funeral Mass will be offered at 10 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 30, in Christ the King Catholic Church, 52473 U.S. 31 North, South Bend. Burial will be at St. Joseph Valley Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Christ the King Building Fund.