FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. Irene Piccolo, whose son Brian's battle with cancer was immortalized in the 1971 television motion picture "Brian's Song," died of natural causes Monday in Tampa. She was 101.
Mrs. Piccolo, who had lived in Tampa since 2000, was born in Yonkers, N.Y., in 1909. She moved to Fort Lauderdale with her husband, Joseph, and their three sons in 1946. The couple ran the Piccolo Sandwich Shop in Fort Lauderdale.
Her sons played football at Central Catholic High, now St. Thomas Aquinas. Brian Piccolo became an All-American halfback at Wake Forest before signing with the Chicago Bears in 1965 as a free agent.
He played for the Bears from 1966 to 1969. That year, he was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer and died June 16, 1970 at age 26.
"That was a difficult time to get through," son Joseph Piccolo said. "The fame of the movie was a constant reminder. Everywhere she went she was asked if she was related to Brian."
Mrs. Piccolo is survived by her sons Joseph and Donald, seven grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.
Published in the Bellingham Herald.
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Piccolo, Irene A., age 101, on April 26, 2011, went home to be with the Lord. Born in New York, she resided in Fort Lauderdale, FL from 1946 to 2000 when she moved to Tampa, FL. She was an active member and supporter of St. Anthony Parish and School in Fort Lauderdale where her sons attended. Irene played an important role in the family business in Fort Lauderdale that included a Driving School and a Sandwich shop located in the downtown area. She could always be found at the sporting events her sons played in from Little League through high school. Irene was preceded in death by her husband of 55 years, Joseph in 1986 and her son Brian in 1970. She is survived by two sons, Joseph of Tampa, FL and Donald of South Carolina; seven grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren. Friends may visit at the Baird-Case Jordan-Fannin Funeral Home at 4343 North federal Highway, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33308,Thursday, April 28, 2011 from 6 to 8 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Anthony Church, Fort Lauderdale FL, on Friday, April 29, 2011, at 10 a.m., followed by Interment at Queen of Heaven Cemetery, North Lauderdale, FL. The family requests that in lieu of Flowers, donations be sent to the Brian Piccolo Cancer Research Fund, 1700 West Van Buren Street-Suite 250, Chicago, IL Tel: (312)563-4953.
Published in Sun-Sentinel on April 27, 2011.
Mrs. Piccolo, who had lived in Tampa since 2000, was born in Yonkers, N.Y., in 1909. She moved to Fort Lauderdale with her husband, Joseph, and their three sons in 1946. The couple ran the Piccolo Sandwich Shop in Fort Lauderdale.
Her sons played football at Central Catholic High, now St. Thomas Aquinas. Brian Piccolo became an All-American halfback at Wake Forest before signing with the Chicago Bears in 1965 as a free agent.
He played for the Bears from 1966 to 1969. That year, he was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer and died June 16, 1970 at age 26.
"That was a difficult time to get through," son Joseph Piccolo said. "The fame of the movie was a constant reminder. Everywhere she went she was asked if she was related to Brian."
Mrs. Piccolo is survived by her sons Joseph and Donald, seven grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.
Published in the Bellingham Herald.
-----------------------------------
Piccolo, Irene A., age 101, on April 26, 2011, went home to be with the Lord. Born in New York, she resided in Fort Lauderdale, FL from 1946 to 2000 when she moved to Tampa, FL. She was an active member and supporter of St. Anthony Parish and School in Fort Lauderdale where her sons attended. Irene played an important role in the family business in Fort Lauderdale that included a Driving School and a Sandwich shop located in the downtown area. She could always be found at the sporting events her sons played in from Little League through high school. Irene was preceded in death by her husband of 55 years, Joseph in 1986 and her son Brian in 1970. She is survived by two sons, Joseph of Tampa, FL and Donald of South Carolina; seven grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren. Friends may visit at the Baird-Case Jordan-Fannin Funeral Home at 4343 North federal Highway, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33308,Thursday, April 28, 2011 from 6 to 8 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Anthony Church, Fort Lauderdale FL, on Friday, April 29, 2011, at 10 a.m., followed by Interment at Queen of Heaven Cemetery, North Lauderdale, FL. The family requests that in lieu of Flowers, donations be sent to the Brian Piccolo Cancer Research Fund, 1700 West Van Buren Street-Suite 250, Chicago, IL Tel: (312)563-4953.
Published in Sun-Sentinel on April 27, 2011.
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. Irene Piccolo, whose son Brian's battle with cancer was immortalized in the 1971 television motion picture "Brian's Song," died of natural causes Monday in Tampa. She was 101.
Mrs. Piccolo, who had lived in Tampa since 2000, was born in Yonkers, N.Y., in 1909. She moved to Fort Lauderdale with her husband, Joseph, and their three sons in 1946. The couple ran the Piccolo Sandwich Shop in Fort Lauderdale.
Her sons played football at Central Catholic High, now St. Thomas Aquinas. Brian Piccolo became an All-American halfback at Wake Forest before signing with the Chicago Bears in 1965 as a free agent.
He played for the Bears from 1966 to 1969. That year, he was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer and died June 16, 1970 at age 26.
"That was a difficult time to get through," son Joseph Piccolo said. "The fame of the movie was a constant reminder. Everywhere she went she was asked if she was related to Brian."
Mrs. Piccolo is survived by her sons Joseph and Donald, seven grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.
Published in the Bellingham Herald.
-----------------------------------
Piccolo, Irene A., age 101, on April 26, 2011, went home to be with the Lord. Born in New York, she resided in Fort Lauderdale, FL from 1946 to 2000 when she moved to Tampa, FL. She was an active member and supporter of St. Anthony Parish and School in Fort Lauderdale where her sons attended. Irene played an important role in the family business in Fort Lauderdale that included a Driving School and a Sandwich shop located in the downtown area. She could always be found at the sporting events her sons played in from Little League through high school. Irene was preceded in death by her husband of 55 years, Joseph in 1986 and her son Brian in 1970. She is survived by two sons, Joseph of Tampa, FL and Donald of South Carolina; seven grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren. Friends may visit at the Baird-Case Jordan-Fannin Funeral Home at 4343 North federal Highway, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33308,Thursday, April 28, 2011 from 6 to 8 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Anthony Church, Fort Lauderdale FL, on Friday, April 29, 2011, at 10 a.m., followed by Interment at Queen of Heaven Cemetery, North Lauderdale, FL. The family requests that in lieu of Flowers, donations be sent to the Brian Piccolo Cancer Research Fund, 1700 West Van Buren Street-Suite 250, Chicago, IL Tel: (312)563-4953.
Published in Sun-Sentinel on April 27, 2011.
Mrs. Piccolo, who had lived in Tampa since 2000, was born in Yonkers, N.Y., in 1909. She moved to Fort Lauderdale with her husband, Joseph, and their three sons in 1946. The couple ran the Piccolo Sandwich Shop in Fort Lauderdale.
Her sons played football at Central Catholic High, now St. Thomas Aquinas. Brian Piccolo became an All-American halfback at Wake Forest before signing with the Chicago Bears in 1965 as a free agent.
He played for the Bears from 1966 to 1969. That year, he was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer and died June 16, 1970 at age 26.
"That was a difficult time to get through," son Joseph Piccolo said. "The fame of the movie was a constant reminder. Everywhere she went she was asked if she was related to Brian."
Mrs. Piccolo is survived by her sons Joseph and Donald, seven grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.
Published in the Bellingham Herald.
-----------------------------------
Piccolo, Irene A., age 101, on April 26, 2011, went home to be with the Lord. Born in New York, she resided in Fort Lauderdale, FL from 1946 to 2000 when she moved to Tampa, FL. She was an active member and supporter of St. Anthony Parish and School in Fort Lauderdale where her sons attended. Irene played an important role in the family business in Fort Lauderdale that included a Driving School and a Sandwich shop located in the downtown area. She could always be found at the sporting events her sons played in from Little League through high school. Irene was preceded in death by her husband of 55 years, Joseph in 1986 and her son Brian in 1970. She is survived by two sons, Joseph of Tampa, FL and Donald of South Carolina; seven grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren. Friends may visit at the Baird-Case Jordan-Fannin Funeral Home at 4343 North federal Highway, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33308,Thursday, April 28, 2011 from 6 to 8 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Anthony Church, Fort Lauderdale FL, on Friday, April 29, 2011, at 10 a.m., followed by Interment at Queen of Heaven Cemetery, North Lauderdale, FL. The family requests that in lieu of Flowers, donations be sent to the Brian Piccolo Cancer Research Fund, 1700 West Van Buren Street-Suite 250, Chicago, IL Tel: (312)563-4953.
Published in Sun-Sentinel on April 27, 2011.
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