- Date Of Birth: March 2, 1923
- Date Of Death: September 26, 2017
- State: Illinois
Peter Joseph Scibona, 94, beloved husband, father, grandfather, and brother died peacefully at home on Tuesday, September 26, 2017.
Peter was born on March 2, 1923, in Hammond, Louisiana, to Nicholas and Carmella (DePaula) Scibona. The eldest son of ten children, Peter leaves behind four sisters, Josephine Scibona, Rose Crapanzano, Frances Fabiano, and Lena Marinelli.
Peter is also survived by his eight children: sons, Nicholas (Julia), and their children, Michael, Megan, and Amy; Guy Thomas (Karen), sons, Thomas (Jessica) and Steven; John (Lori), children, Cara (Jess) Merry and Aaron; James (Laura), and Peter A. “Perry”; daughters, Jeanne (Dale) Brown, children, Raquel and Peter; Laura (James) Anderson, daughters, Marielos and Angela; Julie (Steven) Clemen, son, Solomon.
Also surviving Peter are his in-laws, Joan Scibona, Bette and Larry Hawes, numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and godchildren Rosemary Bienvenu, Phillip Scibona, Marian DiMarco, and Jon Hawes.
Peter was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 58 years, Marie (Mary D’Inverno); his infant daughter, Luanne; his parents; his in-laws, Gaetano and Josephine (Giuffre) D’Inverno; sisters, Mary Rotolo and Annie Wenger; brothers, Russell, Joseph, and Sam; brothers-in-law, Nicholas Rotolo, Robert Wenger, Angelo Crapanzano, Joseph Fabiano, and Russell Marinelli; Margaret (D’Inverno) and Ray DiMarco and Nancy D’Inverno.
Peter grew up a half hour from New Orleans, and later enjoyed touring the city with his children and spending time with his southern relatives, especially his beloved aunts and uncles, with whom the family stayed. Peter always stayed true to his southern values and acted with modesty and respect for others.
After graduating high school, Peter was awarded an academic scholarship to LSU, which he declined in order to help provide for his family. He always stressed the value of education to his own children as a means of bettering themselves.
In Louisiana, Peter learned his trade as a welder, working on the shipyards of New Orleans. He was later employed by the Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 23 of Rockford for the majority of his working life. His colleagues considered Peter to be the most skilled welder in the region, which led to his teaching welding classes for the SACC program at Highland Community College.
Peter served in the U.S. Army during WWII from 1943-46 in the B Troop 121st Reconnaissance Squadron and the 106th Cavalry Group. He fought in several campaigns in Normandy, Northern France, throughout central Europe and the Rhineland, including the decisive Battle of the Bulge.
He was involved in numerous reconnaissance missions, and once guarded the King of Austria. He was awarded several medals for his wartime efforts, including the Purple Heart. True to his nature, he rarely spoke of his experiences in war, unless prodded to do so.
After the war, he saved enough money to move his entire family to Illinois, following industrial opportunities to the Rockford area. In addition to the Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 23 of Rockford, Peter was active in several other associations, including the Knights of Columbus and the Sacred Heart Society.
Well into his 80’s, Peter planted large gardens and was generous in sharing produce with family and neighbors.
Peter was a quiet man who garnered great respect from those who knew him. He had a strong faith that sustained him throughout his life. He truly never rested with the exception of Sundays, which he devoted to God and family.
Peter was a man of dignity who worked hard his entire life to provide for the family whom he valued above all else. In all things, he served himself last, after seeing to the needs of his family. He accepted whatever God gave him.
