Regina Carmen DelPapa, born July 16, 1926 in Naples, Italy to Luigi & Ida (Moscati) DelPapa, left this world on January 27, 2015.

Regina grew up in Italy, where she met and married her late husband Leroy Arthur who passed away on August 22, 1984. She came to America as a WW II War Bride, spending 14 days on an army medical ship, and made Springfield her home. She became an American citizen on April 4, 1950. Regina and Leroy had 4 children. Maria (who died in 1990), Mike (Springfield), Danny & his wife Christi (Little Rock, AR), and Vicky Tichelkamp & her husband Dennis whom she lived with for the past 3 years in Springfield, MO. She enjoyed her 7 grandchildren Darren (California), Tony (who died in 1991), Mike, Danny (Jami), Ray, Christopher and Gina all of Springfield and 4 great grandchildren.

Regina spent the first 26 years of married life taking care of her home and children. As the kids got older she decided to go to work. She worked for Springfield Public Schools for 21 years and over 20 years at the Springfield Park Board. After retirement Regina spent much of her time traveling to Italy to see her siblings Julia, Nino (Anna Maria), Augusta (Gino), Giovanni and Marisa (now deceased) as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. One of her favorite trips was to Singapore to see Luciano Pavarotti in concert, she was asked to stop signing along so others could hear him. Regina loved to travel with Vicky, Dennis and their children to almost 40 states. They would go miles out of their way to visit a church or something Regina saw on a billboard. At home she was one of the founding members of the Italian American Club. She also enjoyed playing Italian card games for many years with a very special group of ladies every Tuesday afternoon, and she never saw a BINGO game she didn’t enjoy at the church, Ernte Fest, or BINGO hall. Regina enjoyed life to the fullest. She was happiest being around her family. Every person she met loved her and she was always happy to talk and visit with them.

Funeral Mass will be at 11:00 a.m. Thursday January 29, 2015 in St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church with Msgr. Thomas Reidy celebrant. Burial will be at Springfield National Cemetery. Visitation will be 1 hour prior to the mass in the church under the care of Herman H. Lohmeyer Funeral Home. The casket will be closed at all times.

Permanent online condolences, stories and photos may be shared at www.hhlohmeyer.com.