By Dee Longfellow
“Those who touch our lives stay in our hearts forever. I will miss my dear, longtime friend.”
Those are the words of a person who left a comment about Angelo Battaglia at the web site of the Pedersen Ryberg funeral home.
A dear friend indeed… and then there’s the food! Over the years, Angelo Battaglia brought some of the best food, along with outstanding restaurant service and event catering right here to the Elmhurst community all the way from his homeland of Italy.
Founder and owner of Two Brothers from Italy, Angelo’s Ristorante, and Rosalia’s Deli in Elmhurst, Angelo Battaglia passed away on Nov. 26, 2023, at the age of 89. He was born in Altavilla Milicia, Sicily on March 10, 1934.
Angelo was a child during World War II and would remember the hardships. Growing up, he worked with his father on his family’s land in Sicily. With just a fifth grade education, Angelo was wiser than many and accomplished so much.
At age 26, he married Rosalia, the love of his life, and they celebrated 63 years together this past Nov. 12.
Along with Rosalia and their three children, Angelo immigrated to Germany and then, on to the United States, where they arrived on May 13, 1972. The Battaglia family started their new life here in Elmhurst. Times were difficult at first, but Angelo persisted, often holding two or three jobs at a time to take care of his family.
Angelo and his brother rented a small space at 128 W. Park Ave. in downtown Elmhurst and converted it into a small Italian restaurant, where they began their legacy on April 25, 1976. Angelo had a tenacity to develop his own recipes, most of which have never been changed since.
One year later, Angelo and Rosalia became the sole proprietors of the Two Brothers from Italy restaurant. With an unwavering and determined work ethic, he eventually opened Angelo’s Ristorante in 1994, followed by Rosalia’s Deli in 2010. He was proud of what he built and grateful for what he accomplished—as he well- deserved.
He was appreciative of all his patrons, some became lifelong friends, as in the comment above. Angelo has had hundreds of employees over the years and always treated every one of them with the utmost respect.
Angelo was fiercely devoted to family and friends and had a smile that could light up a room. He exemplified courage, tenderness, loyalty, hospitality, pride for one’s work, generosity, respect, and patience. Always cooking for his family, friends, and community members, Angelo handed down that adoration to everyone that had the pleasure to meet him.
His daughter Carmela gave the eulogy at his funeral.
“Angelo Battaglia was an exceptional man, it was a privilege to know him,” she said. “He had a beautiful life and was a loving and devoted husband and father. He treated everyone he met like family.
“We were the luckiest to have had him.”
Angelo was preceded in death by his parents Giacinto Battaglia and Carmela Grana, one son Cristoforo, his sisters Rosa, Maria, Carmela, and Rosalia, and his mother- and father-in-law Giovanna and Cristoforo Bucaro.
Angelo is survived by his loving wife, Rosalia (Bucaro) Battaglia; a son, Giacinto (Diane) Battaglia and their children Rosalia (Ezequiel) Fernandez, with great grandchildren Maxima and Mason; Carra (Chris) Salzman with great grandchildren Enza and Vincent; Angelo (Faustina) with great grandchildren Lola, Adalyn, Micah, and Eleanor, Bianca (Jesse), and Julia.
He is also survived by his daughter Carmela (Lucio) Di Nunno and their children Attilio (Madison), Angelo, Alessia, and Gianluca; and by his daughter Giovanna (Salvatore) Calderone and their children Teresa (Jake) Whitt, with great grandchildren Sebastian and Giovanna; Rosalia (Mike) Bledsoe with great grandchild Eliot; Adriana, and Calogero.
Angelo is survived by his sister Gaetana (Joseph) Costanza; by a brother Antonino (Rosaria) Battaglia; and by many nieces, nephews, brothers- and sisters-in-law as well as God children.
Services have been held. A funeral mass took place at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church arranged by Pedersen Ryberg Funeral Home. Mr. Battaglia is interred at Queen of Heaven Cemetery in Hillside.
