Groff Funeral Homes
1607 East Perkins Avenue
Sandusky, OH 44870
Phone: 419-626-3632
Fax: 419-626-2445
Email: info@grofffuneralhomes.com
Website: http://www.grofffuneralhomes.com
View All Obituaries from Groff Funeral Homes
Vincenzo Candiano, 87, of Sandusky, passed away Sunday, July 11, 2021 at home surrounded by his family.
Born in Modica, Sicily, November 11, 1933, he was the son of Angelo and Rosaria (Calabrese) Candiano.
By the age of 8, Vincenzo was apprenticed to and became a master carpenter and furniture maker. At 16, he moved to Venezuela and enjoyed boxing until he returned to Sicily. Vincenzo reconnected, literally, with the girl next door, as he and his wife, Lucia, grew up in the same neighborhood. After they were married, they returned to Venezuela where he continued his self-employment as an expert carpenter. The Candianos, once again, returned to Sicily, where he continued carpentry and worked in the family chicken hatchery.
By 1977, Vincenzo and Lucia packed up and moved to Sandusky, Ohio, where their daughter resided. He was a member of Sts. Peter and Paul Church. The Candianos owned and operated the Howard Johnson's in the Sandusky Plaza, which later became known as Vincenzo's Spaghetti House. While in Sandusky, Vincenzo discovered many previously unknown relatives and cousins, including the Barones, Spadaros, and Calabreses. In 1983 they moved to Florida, where he worked for a prestigious wood finishing company remodeling mansions throughout South Florida, including the Ritz-Carlton in Naples. Never one to sit around, Vincenzo also took up oil painting during his retirement, recreating villages and scenery from Italy. All his paintings have been shared with family and friends, as he loved giving to others.
Sandusky became their home again in 2015, returning to where much of his family resided, including more newfound relatives and cousins. He loved being around his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Vincenzo is survived by his wife, Lucia (Abbate) Candiano, whom he married October 31, 1956; four daughters, Rosaria (James) Sortino, and Rita (German) Rodriguez, both of Sandusky; Giuseppina "Josie" Murphey and Grazia (Ray) Yang, both of Florida; grandchildren, Lucia (Greg) Fischer, Lisa (Greg Ambrose) Sortino, Viviana (Chris) Bradley, Vanessa (Brian) Ader, Amanda (David Urbinati) and Gabriella Murphey, and Gus (Jordan Johnson) and Vincenzo King; step grandsons, Simon Yang and Tony Rodriguez and step granddaughter, Arianne (Sunny Shah) Rodriguez; great grandchildren, JJ and Bella Fischer, Matthew and Benjamin Bradley, Greyson Ader, and Kaysar Craise; sisters, Maria Sella, Giovanna (Orazio) Spataro, and Carmela Candiano; brother, Giovanni (Concetta) Candiano, all of Modica, Sicily; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Other than his parents, Vincenzo was preceded in death by his two brothers, Orazio and Rolando of Sicily and brothers-in-law, Giorgio Di Rosa of Canada and Giorgio Sella of Modica, Sicily.
Friends may call on Tuesday, July 13, 2021 from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm at Groff Funeral Homes & Crematory, 1607 E. Perkins Ave., Sandusky, Ohio. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday, July 14, 2021 at 10:00 am at Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church, 510 Columbus Ave., Sandusky, Ohio with Fr. Zach Brown presiding.
Those wishing to contribute to Vincenzo's memory may do so to Stein Hospice Services, 1200 Sycamore Line, Sandusky, Ohio 44870.
