Ferdinand Irizarry, 85, of The Villages, Florida passed away on November 4, 2018. Ferdinand was born in 1933 in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico to Reyes and Cecilia Irizarry.
He joined the military in 1951 serving in the U.S. Air Force and Army. While in the Army, Ferdinand was awarded a Combat Infantry Badge, Korean Service Medal with 2 Bronze Stars and a United Nations Service Medal.
After military service, Ferdinand earned a college degree from New York University and went to work for the IRS until his retirement. After his retirement, Ferdinand and his wife, Eugenie, moved from New York to The Villages, Florida.
While enjoying his retirement, Ferdinand’s hobbies included billiards, golfing, reading and time with his extended family.
He is survived by his wife of 31 years, Eugenie Irizarry; his children: Ferdinand Irizarry II and his wife Karen from NC; Heidi Brandecker and her husband John from CA; and Richard Irizarry and his wife Eileen from NY; Jennifer Kessler and her husband Robert from NC; and Denise Mollo and her husband Vincent from NC. He is also survived by his brothers Willie Irizarry from TX, Reyes Irizarry from NY, his sister Vivian Santiago from CT; eight grandchildren, one great-grandchild and several loving nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Julia Bhasin; and a daughter, Kathleen Murphy.
A Mass of Resurrection will be held on Friday, November 16, 2018 at 10 a.m., at St. Timothy Catholic Church, The Villages, Florida with inurnment to follow at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens Cemetery, Leesburg with military honors.
The family has requested in lieu of flowers, donations be sent to St. Timothy Catholic Church, 1351 Paige Pl, Lady Lake, FL 32159.
