Peter Lucien Spezia

Peter or as he preferred to be called, Pete was born in Brooklyn to Frank and Fanny Spezia. Pete's sister Mary was just 2 when he was born. Weekends were spent with family enjoying each other and big pots of freshly made pasta and sauce. Fanny and Frank adored their children and worked hard to give them a wonderful life in America. Pete and Mary are first generation Italian Americans. When the kids got a little older, they moved to the "country"; the suburbs of Long Island, NY. The family settled into a beautiful home in Bay Shore. There were First Communions, birthdays, weddings, cub scouts, Anniversaries, new babies- all celebrated together with a big family of cousins, Aunts, Uncles and Grandparents. In 1980 Pete attended a teen youth group at church where he would play his guitar and socialize with other kids his age. It was at this group where he met Stephanie. At first, she coyly tried to ignore him, but he was SO CUTE. Eventually the two began "going out". They stayed together for a few years, attended his prom. Stephanie spent many hours at Pete's house and learned to make meatballs and sauce from Fanny. When MTV came on for the first time, Pete, Mary and Stephanie sisters watched "Video killed the radio star" . He was like a big brother to Stephanie's sisters. His family moved to East Islip. Pete graduated from St. John the Baptist High school in 1982. Pete played in a band called "Jayde" as lead guitarist. The band did parties, talent shows and Frank and Fanny's 25th Wedding Anniversary dinner. Mary joined the band at times belting out tunes by Pat Benetar and the Go-Go's. Stephanie spent many hours watching Pete and the band play and helping out as a "roadie". Eventually Stephanie and Pete parted ways but kept in touch through mutual friends. Pete attended a computer technical program, earned his degree and at JFK airport for Alitalia Airlines with his father Frank. Pete answered his calling to sell specialty car parts and thrived in that business. Sadly Pete and Mary's beloved Mom passed away. Pete learned he had Multiple Sclerosis but was determined to stay strong and beat it. Mary married and asked Pete to be the Godfather of her son John. Pete's son Peter James- "PJ" was born in 1991. Pete and his family moved to Florida. Pete and his family moved to Florida. Mary's second son Michael was born. Mary and Pete got together with their kids and families to celebrate birthdays and holidays or just to hang out. Pete kept in touch with his New York friends and had a very close relationship with Steve, PJ's Godfather. After Frank, their Dad passed away Pete's MS began to flare up and he had to stop driving. However he got an electric car and took PJ to school and picked him up every day. There were trips to Disney, Pete's favorite place, PJ's First Communion and other celebrations. Pete divorced when PJ was 10 and was working from home. PJ and Pete spent many hours together watching movies, playing video games and chess. PJ got a dog, named him Gizmo and grew up going between his Mom's and Dad's homes. Pete attended physical therapy and a MS Support group. He hung out with a few buddies often as he could. He was a devoted father and so proud of everything PJ did. In 2001 Pete made a decision that changed his life. He called Stephanie's parent's home and got her number at work. He called her and the rest is history. Stephanie and her son Josh moved to Florida in 2003 with their 27 lb. French angora bunny Mr. Chubby. Pete and Stephanie began to make a home for themselves. On March 15, 2004 Pete proposed to Stephanie with a beautiful ring he designed himself. They married in NY on April 9, 2005. Both promised to always be honest, true and support each other no matter what. With a reception where over 130 people attended, the happy couple partied like rock stars!! The first few years Pete was well enough to travel and they all went to Orlando several times for vacation. Pete began to have worsened symptoms of the MS and had to stop working. He did however, continue to have a great attitude and do as much as he could. Pete would spend hours with his buddy Richard smoking butts and jamming to rock music in the garage. Stephanie and Pete adopted Ally and Lil Bit, our kitties (named after the line in" Goodfellas " when Robert De Niro said it).PJ graduated from High school and went off to college coming home to see his Dad as often as he could. They shared a special bond. Next came CoCo the amazing 5 pound teacup chiuhua and Dayzee or "Falcor" as we call her. There were lazy weekends watching all 3 parts of the Godfather or renting movies Pete called "Stephanie pics". He loved that Stephanie always knew how to make him laugh and could compose a funny song at the drop of a hat. He would always laugh when Mary's husband Barry called him "PWang". Pete lived by the motto "It's not about having what you want, it's wanting what you have." He did. As his health began to decline he needed full time care. Stephanie continued to work caring for him evenings and weekends. Josh stayed at home to help until the aide arrived. Mary would spend hours with him reminding about their childhood and keeping him updated with family news. Gradually he required more and more and Hospice was with him and his aide Frank, when he passed at home. He is finally at peace. Pete believed in living large. Christmas was his favorite holiday and Stephanie who is not Italian, learned to cook the traditional Christmas eve meal Festa del pesce sette, or Feast of the Seven Fish. Pete loved a house full of people, laughter and music. His favorite chicken wings were cajun. He loved M & M's and beef jerky. Coke was his favorite until he discovered Dr. Pepper. His favorite movie was "Field of Dreams". He loved Italian food but not pasta. He adored Elvis and had a "shrine"- a collection of Elvis memoriabilia in a cabinet at home. Whenever the family would get together Pete would beam. Pete was an honest, hardworking, fun loving, dedicated man who adored his family,his animals and life. He was an amazing guitar player. He had no secrets. He would want everyone to remember him that way. We take comfort in knowing that he is whole again, running with his childhood dog Ruff, playing guitar for his father and enjoying his Mom's home cooking. We will never, ever forget him. There is no one who can ever fill his shoes.