1926
Mr
2013
Mr Leo A. Aureli
June 15, 1926 — October 28, 2013
Leo Amerigo Aureli, longtime Amarillo resident, died Oct. 28, 2013 in Amarillo. A vigil will begin at 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 14, at Schooler Funeral Home, 4100 South Georgia to give friends and family an opportunity to share remembrances and pray the rosary.
A Memorial Mass celebrated by Father Scott Raef will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Nov. 15, at St. Mary's Cathedral, 1200 S. Washington St. Arrangements are by Schooler Funeral Home, 4100 S. Georgia St.
Leo, who was born on June 15, 1926, in Columbus, Ohio, slipped peacefully from his earthly body the morning of Oct. 28. Born to Leo Norman Aureli and Josephine Bango Aureli, he was the youngest of four boys. His father died in an automobile accident when he was four years old, and his mother later married a wonderful man named Amerigo Michael “Murph” Evangelisti. They added two more children to the family, a sister and a brother.
After high school graduation, Leo enlisted in the United States Army Air Corps, serving as a gunner during World War II. Fortunately, he never saw action; while his division was in the air flying to Japan, the Japanese surrendered. He served in the occupation forces in Saipan. When he finished his tour of duty, he returned to the United States and enrolled at Western Pennsylvania Horological Institute in Pittsburgh, PA. After graduating from that program, he headed to Paris, TX to continue his studies at Paris Junior College, one of the finest watch repair schools in the country. And there in the registrar’s office, he met his future wife Aileen Cassell. Aileen and Leo were married on July 13, 1949, in Aileen’s family home in Detroit, TX.
Leo spent all of his working life in the jewelry business. He was employed with Zale’s Jewelers for 26 years starting out as a watchmaker at the Zale’s store in Dallas. He was promoted through the ranks to serve as a senior vice president with the company. After he retired from Zale’s, he opened his own store in Amarillo in Sunset Center called Leo Aureli & Son Creative Jewelers, working alongside his son Leo Jr., who also attended Paris Junior College and majored in jewelry. He was active in the Amarillo Catholic Diocese, both at St. Mary’s Cathedral and St. Thomas Catholic Church. He and Aileen were charter members of St. Thomas and he served for many years on parish councils at both churches. He also was active in the Serra Club, the Italian Club and the Knights of Columbus. He served alongside Aileen in a ministry dedicated to the Capuchin Monastery. One of his favorite activities was cooking and serving his rigatonis and special Italian meat sauce to dozens and dozens of his friends.
When he retired from the jewelry business, he and Aileen enjoyed many amazing vacations and trips to all of the children’s and grandchildren’s events – ball games, recitals, sporting events, choir and band concerts, high school graduations, college graduations and weddings. He enjoyed the sports of bowling and golf and loved to watch his Dallas Cowboys play football.
Survivors include his wife of 64 years, Aileen Aureli, five children and their spouses: Angie Aureli Schweer and her husband Roland of Katy, Josie Aureli Baker and her husband Henry of Dallas, Lainie Aureli Snider and her husband Frank of Bentonville, AR, Leo A. Aureli Jr. and his wife Tamme of Amarillo, and Terri Aureli Mathiasmeier and her husband Mark of Overland Park, KS. He was blessed with 14 grandchildren: Cynthia Schweer Rayner and her husband Christopher of Cape Town, South Africa, Erica Schweer Whalen and her husband Evan of Astoria, NY, Julie Schweer Wilhite and her husband Christopher of Austin, Audra Baker Kubelka and her husband Dominic of Austin, Virginia Baker Wills and her husband D’Arcy of Irving, Ann Baker of Dallas, Preston Snider and his wife Sarah Rose of Buhler, KS, Grant Snider of Amarillo, Sarah Snider of Sterling City, Rebecca Snider and Lauren Snider, both of Bentonville, AR, Sloane Aureli of Washington, DC, Joshua Mathiasmeier and his wife Jamie of Olathe, KS, and Maegan Mathiasmeier of Kansas City, MO. He was also blessed with 10 great-grandsons and one great-granddaughter.
He is also survived by his sister Mary Ross of Dallas, his brother Amerigo Michael “Ace” Evangelisti Jr. and his wife Barbara of Houston, his sister-in-law Josephine Aureli of McKinney, and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his mother, father, stepfather and three of his brothers: Daniel Aureli, Harry Aureli who was killed in action at the Battle of Saipan near the end of WW II, and John Aureli.
The family has asked that in lieu of flowers, memorials be made in the form of contributions to St. Mary’s Cathedral, 1200 S. Washington St.
A Memorial Mass celebrated by Father Scott Raef will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Nov. 15, at St. Mary's Cathedral, 1200 S. Washington St. Arrangements are by Schooler Funeral Home, 4100 S. Georgia St.
Leo, who was born on June 15, 1926, in Columbus, Ohio, slipped peacefully from his earthly body the morning of Oct. 28. Born to Leo Norman Aureli and Josephine Bango Aureli, he was the youngest of four boys. His father died in an automobile accident when he was four years old, and his mother later married a wonderful man named Amerigo Michael “Murph” Evangelisti. They added two more children to the family, a sister and a brother.
After high school graduation, Leo enlisted in the United States Army Air Corps, serving as a gunner during World War II. Fortunately, he never saw action; while his division was in the air flying to Japan, the Japanese surrendered. He served in the occupation forces in Saipan. When he finished his tour of duty, he returned to the United States and enrolled at Western Pennsylvania Horological Institute in Pittsburgh, PA. After graduating from that program, he headed to Paris, TX to continue his studies at Paris Junior College, one of the finest watch repair schools in the country. And there in the registrar’s office, he met his future wife Aileen Cassell. Aileen and Leo were married on July 13, 1949, in Aileen’s family home in Detroit, TX.
Leo spent all of his working life in the jewelry business. He was employed with Zale’s Jewelers for 26 years starting out as a watchmaker at the Zale’s store in Dallas. He was promoted through the ranks to serve as a senior vice president with the company. After he retired from Zale’s, he opened his own store in Amarillo in Sunset Center called Leo Aureli & Son Creative Jewelers, working alongside his son Leo Jr., who also attended Paris Junior College and majored in jewelry. He was active in the Amarillo Catholic Diocese, both at St. Mary’s Cathedral and St. Thomas Catholic Church. He and Aileen were charter members of St. Thomas and he served for many years on parish councils at both churches. He also was active in the Serra Club, the Italian Club and the Knights of Columbus. He served alongside Aileen in a ministry dedicated to the Capuchin Monastery. One of his favorite activities was cooking and serving his rigatonis and special Italian meat sauce to dozens and dozens of his friends.
When he retired from the jewelry business, he and Aileen enjoyed many amazing vacations and trips to all of the children’s and grandchildren’s events – ball games, recitals, sporting events, choir and band concerts, high school graduations, college graduations and weddings. He enjoyed the sports of bowling and golf and loved to watch his Dallas Cowboys play football.
Survivors include his wife of 64 years, Aileen Aureli, five children and their spouses: Angie Aureli Schweer and her husband Roland of Katy, Josie Aureli Baker and her husband Henry of Dallas, Lainie Aureli Snider and her husband Frank of Bentonville, AR, Leo A. Aureli Jr. and his wife Tamme of Amarillo, and Terri Aureli Mathiasmeier and her husband Mark of Overland Park, KS. He was blessed with 14 grandchildren: Cynthia Schweer Rayner and her husband Christopher of Cape Town, South Africa, Erica Schweer Whalen and her husband Evan of Astoria, NY, Julie Schweer Wilhite and her husband Christopher of Austin, Audra Baker Kubelka and her husband Dominic of Austin, Virginia Baker Wills and her husband D’Arcy of Irving, Ann Baker of Dallas, Preston Snider and his wife Sarah Rose of Buhler, KS, Grant Snider of Amarillo, Sarah Snider of Sterling City, Rebecca Snider and Lauren Snider, both of Bentonville, AR, Sloane Aureli of Washington, DC, Joshua Mathiasmeier and his wife Jamie of Olathe, KS, and Maegan Mathiasmeier of Kansas City, MO. He was also blessed with 10 great-grandsons and one great-granddaughter.
He is also survived by his sister Mary Ross of Dallas, his brother Amerigo Michael “Ace” Evangelisti Jr. and his wife Barbara of Houston, his sister-in-law Josephine Aureli of McKinney, and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his mother, father, stepfather and three of his brothers: Daniel Aureli, Harry Aureli who was killed in action at the Battle of Saipan near the end of WW II, and John Aureli.
The family has asked that in lieu of flowers, memorials be made in the form of contributions to St. Mary’s Cathedral, 1200 S. Washington St.
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