Carlo Ventura, 95, of Gainesville, FL passed away at home on April 12, 2023.

Visitation will be at St. Madeleine Catholic Church, High Springs, FL on April 22, 2023 at 9:00 A.M. Immediately following the visitation, a funeral Mass will be held also at St. Madeleine Catholic Church at 10:00 A.M. with Reverend Marek Dzien officiating. Burial service will follow at the St. Madeleine Memorial Gardens Cemetery. The Memorial Gardens Cemetery is handling the funeral arrangements.

Carlo Ventura was born in Caltanissetta, Sicily, Italy to Alfonso and Filomena Ventura on February 11, 1928. One of seven children, Carlo along with his brothers worked from age twelve in their father’s limestone mines and concrete business. When he was 21, he was conscripted into the Italian Army stationed in Rome where he was responsible for the vehicles in the motor pool. Military service sparked Carlo’s desire to see more of the world. Upon completing his required service, Carlo enrolled in a technical school in northern Italy near Genoa and received a certificate in building construction. He emigrated to Brazil, specifically to Pouso Alegre in the State of Minas Gerais where many Italians had relocated after World War II. There he worked as a project manager responsible for the construction of various businesses, homes, and a seminary school.

In Pouso Alegre he met and married the love of his life, Maria de Lourdes Moraes. After their first three girls, (Filomena, Angela, and Silvana) were born, the family moved to Sicily for 1.5 years and later emigrated to the U.S. where their fourth daughter, Christina, was born in Connecticut. After 5 years they returned to Brazil, where their fifth daughter, Patricia, was born. The family came back to the U.S. this time to live in up-state New York. However, after that 3-year stint they returned once again to Brazil, but for the last time. After two years there, they finally settled in Central Florida where the growth of Disney World was generating a housing construction boom.

During his entire professional career, Carlo honed his craft eventually specializing in stone work. In addition to building homes, professional buildings, and a country club in Florida, he designed and built a beautiful stone Marian grotto and Stations of the Cross at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church in Kissimmee.

Following his wife’s death in 1984, Carlo retired to Gainesville where many of his family live. He spent much of his time outdoors golfing or riding his racing bicycles all over Alachua and surrounding counties. An avid cyclist clocking in 4 to 6 hours per day, he rode into his late 80s, including for many of those years his traditional birthday ride where he would cycle the number of miles corresponding to his age (including 80 miles on his 80th birthday). In his down time, he loved to play scopa-an Italian card game—and make homemade pasta for his family. Among his other hobbies, Carlo loved to sing opera, build furniture, and create gadgets in his garage, such as exercise weights, cement planter boxes, and other useful household items.

Carlo is preceded in death by his wife Maria de Lourdes Moraes and his parents Filomena and Alfonso Ventura, 3 brothers (Vincenzo, Ricardo, and Salvatore), 2 sisters (Ciara and Gina), and 1 great grandchild (Jacob). Carlo is survived by his 1 brother (Michele), 5 daughters (Filomena, Angela, Silvana, Christina, and Patricia) and his 3 sons-in-law (Scott, Eugeniusz, and Glenn). Carlo is also survived by 14 grandchildren and their 7 spouses, 13 great grandchildren, and 2 great grandchildren to be born this year.

Carlo believed that “La famiglia `e tutto” (the family is everything). Carlo Ventura (papa and nonno) will be greatly missed!

If you wish to send flowers please direct them to St. Madeleine Catholic Church and/or Santa Fe Shrine of Our Lady of Leche at 17155 NW US Hwy 441, High Springs, FL 32643.