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The matriarch of the Lombardi’s Italian food empire has died.
Michelina Lombardi, affectionately known as “Mamma Lombardi” — also the namesake of the Holbrook restaurant and market that started it all — passed away on Thursday, July 25. She was 92.
Mamma Lombardi’s, which opened in Holbrook nearly 50 years ago, was closed today, Monday, for the family, according to a social media announcement.
“Through her delicious food she brought joy and togetherness to so many, enriching those special moments for families for decades, from weddings to intimate family dinners,” the post reads. “Her generosity, warmth and love for the community, cooking and gardening made her a beloved figure across Long Island.
“Her nurturing spirit and devotion to her family will continue to inspire us all, and she will always be in our hearts.”
Lombardi was born on November 12, 1931, later emigrating from Italy to the U.S. in 1968.
Mamma Lombardi’s restaurant opened in 1976 and marked the first business venture for Michelina’s son, Guy Lombardi, and others in the Lombardi family. The idea was to take their mother’s recipes and showcase them, according to a Q & A published on Total Food Service with Guy Lombardi in 2014.
The family later expanded its Long Island footprint within Holbrook and beyond.
Today, the family operates Mamma Lombardi’s, Lombardi’s Market and Villa Lombardi’s, all in Holbrook, as well as Lombardi’s on the Bay in Patchogue, and Lombardi’s Love Lane Market in Mattituck.
Michelina Lombardi was a “devoted mother of eight, a beloved grandmother and a cherished great grandmother,” reads a Moloney Funeral Homes obituary. “Michelina’s nurturing spirit extended far beyond her immediate family.”
Scroll down for more from Moloney Funeral Home.
Obituary
Having emigrated from Italy in 1968, Michelina brought with her a love for cooking and gardening, which became the cornerstones of her life. Her kitchen was a place of abundance and joy, where she shared her passion for culinary delights with all those she held dear. Michelina’s green thumb could bring life to even the smallest of seeds, symbolizing the care and dedication she invested in tending to her garden and relationships alike.
While she found joy in many pursuits, Michelina’s love for her children was unmatched in its depth and intensity. Through her selfless devotion and unwavering support, she instilled values of love, compassion and resilience in each of her children, shaping them into the remarkable individuals they are today.
May Michelina Lombardi’s memory continue to inspire acts of kindness and generosity, echoing the love and nurturance she so freely shared with the world. Her legacy will live on in the hearts of all who were fortunate enough to know her.
While she found joy in many pursuits, her love for her children was unmatched in its depth and intensity.
Through her selfless devotion and unwavering support, she instilled values of love, compassion and resilience in each of her children, shaping them into the remarkable individuals they are today.
In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
Top: A recent photograph of Michelina Lombardi alongside jars of her namesake tomato sauces for sale in Holbrook. (Credit: Mamma Lombardi’s on Facebook)
