Obituary of Louis A. Chelenza

GENEVA- Louis A. Chelenza, age 89, left this Earth on Wed. (Dec. 30), to be with the love of his life, June Allen, who he was married to for over 50 years. Lou died at home unexpectedly, at home in his favorite recliner chair. Friends may call from 3 to 6 p.m. Tues. (Jan. 5), at the Palmisano-Mull Funeral Home LLC, 28 Genesee St. Geneva. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Wed. (Jan. 6), at St. Francis De Sales Catholic Church in Geneva. Entombment will follow in St. Mary's Mausoleum, with full military honors. Contributions may be directed to the Geneva Family Y.M.C.A.; 399 William St. Geneva, NY 14456, or Honor Flight Syracuse online at: honorflightsyracuse.org . Lou was a life-long Geneva resident and one of nine children and was raised by their mother in Torrey Park. He was a United States Army Veteran, Sgt. 1st Class, during the Korean War Conflict. He received the Medal of Merit and the Ambassador for Peace Medal. We all thought he would live to be 100, since he walked miles every day during his many years as a mailman. Lou always kept active and actually went to the Y.M.C.A Wed. morning. Many will remember him as their Redskins football coach, or the best umpire that called their game. He loved watching football and was a huge SU basketball and New York Yankees baseball fan. Lou was kind, generous and loving. If you ask anyone that knew him, they wouldn't have a mean thing to say about him. Lou always did the right thing, because it was the right thing to do, even when no one was watching, like feeding the 25 stray cats that always hung out at his house. He will be deeply missed by many friends and his family; son, Stephen (Barb) Chelenza; Laurie (Charlie) Guererri and Lisa (Duane) Severson; grandchildren, Melanie (Bill) LaClair, Joseph (Jess) Guererri, James (Christina) Guererri and Ashley (Kyle) Johnson; sister, Cecilia; many nieces and nephews. Lou was predeceased by his wife June in 2006; 7 of his siblings, Carmen, Nick, Joe, Frances, Lucy, Mike and Peter.