Ubaldo Suppappola

Ubaldo Suppappola, 99, of Fall River passed away on November 14, 2023, at Charlton Memorial Hospital. He was the husband of the late Fortunata Suppappola with whom he was married for 71 years.

Born in East Greenwich, Rhode Island, he was the son of the late Domenico and Speranza (Pollana) Suppappola. He returned with his family to Italy when he was five years old. Drafted into the Italian army at 19 years old during World War II, he was captured at the German front and was held as prisoner of war for three years in Austria, Germany, and Denmark. He found his way home at the end of the war and spent time recuperating from an illness sustained during captivity.

He taught himself to play the accordion and did it so well he was asked by many couples in his village to play at their weddings. He met his wife, and before they were married, he would occasionally show up outside her house with his friends to surprise her and her family with a midnight performance. He would play his accordion and his friends would serenade her as a way to show his love. Her family enjoyed it and would always invite them in to play some more and to indulge in some wine and cheese. They married and had two sons, one of which passed away at 10 days old. He returned alone by ship to the United States in 1952 to live with his brother and godmother in East Greenwich. He worked hard to save every penny in order to be reunited two and a half years later with his wife and son. They moved to Fall River in 1957, bought the house he lived in for the remainder of his life, and later had their daughter. Until his retirement, he worked at various manufacturing businesses in the Fall River textile industry for many years, including Bristol Knitting, River Edge, River Textiles, and Pioneer.

He had a special talent for working with his hands, building, and fixing almost anything, completely remodeling his three-family house by himself. He was at his happiest spending many hours in his beloved garden growing beautiful fruits, vegetables, and a bounty of perennial flower varieties. He and his wife loved to travel after their retirement.  They went on 16 cruises (he loved the midnight buffet!) and enjoyed many bus trips together. He spent the ten years leading up to his 97th birthday painstakingly and lovingly taking care of his wife at home 24/7 throughout her long illness. His devotion to her was extraordinary.

He was predeceased by his first son, Domenico. Besides his wife, he is survived by his second son, Domenico Suppappola, and his wife Dale; daughter, Anna Hannigan and her husband, Thomas; was “Nonno” to three grandchildren: Daniel Kirkpatrick, Lisa Laramy, Michael Suppappola and wife, Azadeh; great grandchildren, Evan, and Mila Suppappola; and several nieces and nephews. He was the brother of the late Alberico Suppappola.

Per Ubaldo’s wishes, his funeral service and burial will be private for the immediate family and are entrusted to the Auclair Funeral Home, 690 South Main Street, Fall River. Online condolences at auclairfuneralhome.com.