POPULAR Ennis businessman Vincenzo (Enzo) D’Auria was laid to rest on Tuesday morning.
Known for being at the forefront of the fast food industry in County Clare since the early 1980s, Enzo defied the odds for the last 25 years as he battled health complications. At the age of 82, he passed away at home last Friday surrounded by his loving family.
Enzo’s daughter Trofi spoke at the Funeral Mass, where all of Enzo’s surviving siblings, sister Nicolina (Ninette), brothers Mario, Alberto and Piero attended the packed service at the Cathedral in Ennis.
Enzo (81) grew up on the famous Amalfi coast in a village called Ravello overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, where he was one of nine siblings in a very typically Italian family. His uncle served as a Monsignor while his first cousin was a Poor Clare.
At the age of 18 without a word of English, Enzo moved to England where he landed a job with Cine Food, a catering company that worked exclusively on film sets, where he worked on films such as Ryan’s Daughter, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Mary Poppins, and many more.
It was while working a movie starring Kurt Russell called Guns In The Heather, filmed in County Clare, when Enzo would meet his future wife Nuala (nee Tuohy) in 1968 and the pair were married within a year.
In total, Enzo and Nuala established five food outlets in Clare, three of which remain under the stewardship of their family including in Lahinch, Abbey Street and Parnell Street in Ennis.
‘Pappa’ Enzo was forced to retire from work over 20 years ago due to ill-health. His passions in retirement were cooking, growing fresh produce and gardening.
Enzo was brought to his final resting place in Drumcliffe Cemetery on Tuesday morning under the care of Kennedy’s Funeral Home.
Predeceased by his parents Alfonso D’Auria and Trofimena Amato, brother Arturo and his sisters Anna, Luigina and Filomena. Sadly missed by his loving wife Nuala, daughters Trofimena, Lianda and Olivia, son Alfonso, sons-in-law Paudie Sheahan, Barry McGuire and Philippe Gosseau, daughter-in-law Tina D’Auria, grandchildren Dean, Léa, Chiara, Théo, Andrea, Gavin, Robert, Maïa, Marcus, Lianda Jnr, Séamus and Fionn, sister Nicolina (Ninette), brothers Mario, Alberto and Piero, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nephews, nieces, relatives, neighbours and friends.
