Simone Avignone, 79 years old passed away on July 30, 2017, surrounded by his loving family. He leaves behind his loving wife of 53 years, Giovanna (nee. Martino), three loving daughters – Antoinette (Joseph Lukasik), Maria (Eric Fried), and Gina (Joseph Cardinale), and five adoring grandchildren — Simona Lukasik, Alexander and Nathaniel Fried, and Salvatore and Julia Cardinale. Simone immigrated to the United States from Italy at the age of 20 in search of a better life. Leaving behind all that was familiar, he ventured to a new continent with nothing but hope. He found work as a painter but his true calling was that of an artist. As a painter and an artist, he created and restored works of art in churches, numerous historical landmarks, and other venues, transforming the ordinary into the magnificent. Simone loved his family the