The Lombardi family owns several restaurants and catering halls, including Villa Lombardi’s in Holbrook.
(Photo courtesy of Facebook)
The matriarch of the Mamma Lombardi’s Restaurant Group passed away on July 25, 2024 at the age of 92, according to her family. Michelina, affectionately known as Mamma Lombardi, was a mother of eight, as well as a beloved grandmother and great grandmother.
According to her obituary on Molony Funeral Home’s website, Michelina emigrated from Italy in 1968 with a love of cooking and gardening. Her kitchen was filled with joy, where she often shared her passion for cooking with her loved ones. Her granddaughter, Lauren, told Newsday that Michelina was involved with the family’s restaurants until the pandemic. She added that Michelina’s cooking was often driven by what was in her garden.
The Lombardi family opened Mamma Lombardi’s in 1976. After moving into a larger restaurant, the family expanded their property to include Villa Lombardi’s, a BOLI preferred vendor, in 1994 and Lombardi’s Gourmet Market in 2000. They established Lombardi’s on the Bay in Patchogue in 2011 and Lombardi’s Love Lane Market in Mattituck in 2014. They also operated Lombardi’s on the Sound in Port Jefferson, from 2003 to 2018.
Her family posted these words on the Mamma Lombardi’s Facebook page to remember their beloved mother and grandmother:
Through her delicious food she has brought joy and togetherness to so many, enriching those special moments for families for decades, from weddings to intimate family dinners. Her generosity, warmth and love for the community, cooking and gardening made her a beloved figure across Long Island. Her nurturing spirit and devotion to her family will continue to inspire us all, and she will always be in her hearts.
Many people offered their condolences, remembering Michelina as a kind and loving woman, who always made them feel like family.
