Michael LaMonica

Michael LaMonica was born in Rochester, New York on March 18, 1918. He graduated from Geneva High School in Geneva, New York in 1937. Michael married Regina Di Giannantonio in Geneva, New York on October 23, 1938. He work as a waiter as well as a painter and paperhanger with his father in Geneva. In 1947, Michael was looking for work and though a friendship with a pastor; they felt the Lord leading he and Regina to go to Vero Beach, Florida to find work as a painter. While living in Vero Beach, they would visit Cocoa, Florida trying to connect with other Italian families living there. During their visits, they met several Italian Christian families looking for a bilingual minister to pastor them in Italian. Michael was asked to consider becoming their pastor, and he chose to accept the ministerial opportunity in 1948, becoming the pastor for the Courtenay Italian Christian Church of North America. They family lived in Courtenay, Florida until 1954. During those 6 years Michael pioneered and helped plant several other churches in Central Florida. He started the Merritt Island Assembly of God Church, and assisted in establishing the Eau Gallie Assembly of God and Titusville Assembly of God churches. IN 1954, Michael left Merritt Island and moved his family to Miami, Florida where he was again asked to establish and Italian bilingual church by several Italian families needing a pastor. Due to his aging parents and their failing health, the family moved back to New York in 1957 to assist them. While living in Buffalo, New York, Michael received a call to consider pastoring a church in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania named the Tacony Christian Church, where he ministered for approximately 12 years. In 1971, Michael and Regina moved to Houston to be closer to family. While living in Houston, Michael became employed as a chemical tester with Rohm-Haas Chemical Company from where he eventually retired. During these years, Michael continued to minister wherever the doors opened to him, enjoying singing and encouraging others. Also during his time in Houston, he was invited to travel to Italy to be an interpreter for then Pastor John Osteen of the Oasis Church. In 1981 he and Regina returned to Miami to pastor a group of Italian Christians needing a bilingual pastor, and lived there for about 5 years. They returned to Houston to live until the Lord called him home on December 6, 2014 Survived by Children- John LaMonica, Michael LaMonica Jr., David LaMonica, Margaret Lee, Debbie LaMonica, Carol Ann Way 17 Grandchildren 18 Great Grandchildren Preceded in Death by Wife - Regina Gina LaMonica Son - Ralph LaMonica Parents - Michelina and Giovanni LaMonica Sisters - Anna Sciandra, Mary Lawrence, Josephine Evans, Sandy Forsyth and Elizabeth Rubino