A funeral Mass for Leo Sutera, 90, former owner of Louise’s Ravioli, is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. on Nov. 10 at St. Agnes Parish in Middleton, Massachusetts.
Mr. Sutera, a resident of Lynnfield, Massachusetts, and Marco Island, Florida, died Nov. 4 surrounded by his family.
Born Feb. 25, 1933, in the North End of Boston, he was the son of the late Vincenzo Sutera and Calogera (Ragusa), who immigrated from Sciacca, Sicily, in the early 1900s. A first generation American, Mr. Sutera personified the American dream.
From an early age, he demonstrated an entrepreneurial spirit. With his shoeshine kit in hand, he made his way to Scollay Square to shine shoes. In the eighth grade, he made the decision to leave school and join his father as a fisherman.
Mr. Sutera met his wife, Barbara (Hernon) at Moseley’s Dance Hall on the Charles. They married in 1957, and a year later they welcomed the first of their five children.
In 1967, Mr. Sutera realized his dream of running his own business when he bought Louise’s Ravioli, a mom-and-pop store in Revere. He transformed Louise’s into the No. 1 ravioli company in New England. In 1981, he was bought out by General Mills. He later bought it back from General Mills, built the business up and sold it to Labatt Brewing.
At 54, Leo and Barbara retired to Marco Island, Florida. Mr. Sutera volunteered his time and raised money for many worthy causes.
Mr. Sutera stressed the importance of family and instilled a sense of adventure and travel to his children.
In addition to his wife, survivors include his children, Leanne, Julie (Edward), Barbara (Richard), Vincent (Nancy) and Christine (Jeff); grandchildren, Alexandra (Erik), Brianna (Zach), Elizabeth (Jeff), Leo, Cortney, Maria (Rich), Micaela, Claudia, Lucas, Sam, Kara and Julia; and great-grandchildren Eloise, Reese, Will, Quinn and Sloane.
Mr. Sutera also is survived by his sisters, Marge Marino (Angelo), Kay Orlando (Mac), Jenny Ciuffo (Nick) and Lucille Bonfilio (John). He was the brother-in-law to Gino Palmacci (Mary) and Joseph Hernon (Pat) and many nieces, nephews and extended family.
He was preceded in death by his siblings Nat Sutera (Lily), Beatrice Ciulla (Tony), Philip Sutera (Sena), Lucy Sutera, Phyllis Orlando (Mike) and Rita Sabella (Al).
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Mr. Sutera’s name to Daughters of Mary of Nazareth, P.O. Box 690789, Quincy, MA 02269; or to the Ara Parseghian Medical Research Fund, 215 Jordan Hall of Science, Notre Dame, IN 46556.
For complete obituary, visit Mackey Funeral Home.
