Peter Zagorda
October 15, 1920 - June 26, 2017
Obituary
Early on the morning of June 26, 2017 our dear father left this earth to once again dance cheek-to-cheek with his sweetheart, our mom, in heaven. Born October 15, 1920 in Livingston, MT to James and Mary Zagorda he was the oldest of six children to be raised in this loving Italian family. Growing up during the Depression had a lasting effect on him. He always said that his family was poor, but they were happy. Some of his fondest memories were of the time his family spent together while he was a kid. He never lost his love, respect and admiration for his parents and grandparents for all their years of hard work. Surrounded by this loving extended family and their strong ethnic roots, he would carry throughout his life the sense that family and faith were the most important components to a happy life. And for 96 years he was blessed with a very happy life. Pete attended the Garfield School and graduated from Billings High School in 1938. Growing up on the Billings Southside he was involved with all the activities of the neighborhood, most especially those at Little Flower Church. The social life of the community was church and he had fond memories of helping Fr. O'Rourke, working the yearly bazaar, serving Mass and helping his father and the other men in the parish maintain the church. Summers were spent at his grandparent's farm on “the Bench.” With his cousin, Pete Gesuale, and uncle, Louie Cucciardi, he managed to have a lot of fun, get into some big trouble and still help around the farm. He worked at Reymer Machine during high school and after graduation until his enlistment in the U.S. Coast Guard at the beginning of WWII. His basic training was at Port Townsend, WA and his first assignment was to Treasure Island, CA, where he patrolled the shoreline with no weapons on Errol Flynn's personal sailboat listening for Japanese radio messages. Once aboard the USS General Wm Black as an electrician's mate, he made twenty-five crossings of the Atlantic Ocean while also spending time in the Pacific. The thirty-nine months he spent in the Coast Guard remained the biggest adventure of his life. He never forgot the places and people he saw as he traveled all over the world. At the end of the war he returned to Billings to marry his sweetheart and lifelong love, Doris Heringer, who he met playing baseball in the neighborhood. From this union they had four children, Mary, Tom, Patty and Jeanne. Their home was filled with good food, family dinners, holiday celebrations, and all the mischief and laughter involved in raising a family. Pete worked at US West for 34 years, retiring in 1984. During retirement, he and Doris enjoyed golf, traveling, attending activities with their grandchildren and continuing to bring friends and family together around their dinner table. After 47 years they sold the family home and moved to a patio home where they met wonderful new friends. In 2012 they moved to West Park Village Senior Residence. Pete was a member of the Knights of Columbus, Billings Optimist Club, Telephone Pioneers of America, RSVP, American Legion, Lake Hills Golf Club, and a lifetime member of the Elks. He served as the Lt. Governor of the Alberta-Montana-Saskatchewan District of Optimist International. He was a charter member of St. Pius X Catholic Church. He was preceded in death by his wife, Doris, his parents, and his siblings Mickey Zagorda, Rose Roebuck and Antoinette Kennedy. He is survived by his sisters, Jenny Simon and Lena O'Dea, brother-in-law, Tony O'Dea, and his children: Mary Brown (Bob), Tom Zagorda (Sue), Patty Wilson (Bruce) and Jeanne Moller (Wayne). He was Papa to ten grandchildren: Todd Wilson (Laurie), Chad Wilson (Anne), Gina Joyce (Kale), Nathan Brown, Joe Brown, Amanda Brown, Peter Zagorda (Krista), Angela McCormick (Jon), Jennifer Verhasselt (Ryan) and Cole Moller. He had eight great grandchildren: Leah Brown, Nettie and Emily Joyce, Ryly, Kaden and Elyse Verhasselt, Mia McCormick and Xander Zagorda. Twin great granddaughters, Stella and Olive Zagorda, will arrive in October. He was loved by his many nieces and nephews in the Sweeney, Fritzen, Kennedy, Simon, O'Dea and Heringer families. Funeral services are scheduled for 11:00 AM, Thursday July 6, at St. Pius X Catholic Church with interment in Calvary Cemetery to follow. The family would like to thank the staff of West Park Senior Residence for their loving care and genuine affection for our parents over the past five years. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to West Park Residence Council Employee Fund, West Park Village Senior Residence, 2351 Solomon Ave., Billings, MT 59102. So when tomorrow starts without me don't think we're far apart, for every time you think of me I'm right here in your heart. ~David M. Romano
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Memories
JW
Judy Wood
Other •
To Mary Kay,Tom,Patty,and Jeanne ...We will never forget our loving neighbors the Zagorda's. All the babysitting, good times in the neighborhood. We loved your Mom & Dad and they made the perfect couple. Many good laughs and always smiling. Our thoughts are with you. The Sanderson sisters, Carole, Judy, Barbara & Susan- ....Our brother passed away May,2015.
PI
Paul and Terry Walston (now in Meridian, ID)
Other •
We enjoyed working with Pete many, many years ago at Mountain Bell and USWest. He brightened up our work place and was such a wonderful person. Our hearts and prayers are with you all now.
BK
Barbara Bauer Kiernan
Other •
Dear Mary Kay,
So sorry to hear of your fathers passing. Both of your parents were very special people, an example of how gracious and fun we all should be. You and your family are in my prayers. Barbara
KR
Kathy Robins
Other •
We are so sorry, Zagorda family. He lived a wonderful, full life; one that we can all hope to emulate. Look at that great smile! We will keep you all in our thoughts and prayers. Jim and Kathy (Ulrickson) Robins
MC
Mike and Cheryl Cucciardi
Other •
Peter was my first cousin. He was only two years younger than my dad, Louie Cucciardi. Perter’s mother was my dad’s eldest sister. She was born in San Marco in Lamis, Italy, to our grandparents, Michele and Archangeila Cucciardi. My wife Cheryl and I may have been two of the last to see Peter alive. The afternoon before he took off for Heaven, we visited Pete in his assisted living unit. He was amazingly full of his usual joyous banter and i think looked younger than i that day. I remember him jokingly giving me a bad time in that I had more gray hair than did he! He belly-laughed when he told me. We stayed for about 30-45 minutes having a great time reminiscing about our many, family, get-togethers. He loved my dad very much, even though they gave each other a bad time. I remember trying to pick his brain that afternoon about his and my grandparents. I to
D him how lucky he was to have known them for about thirty years. I was not that lucky. I wish I had recorded our conversation that final afternoon. When we were about to leave, i specifically recall both of us saying how much we enjoyed our conversing and to not let too much time pass until we meet again. We shook hands, yes, we did that, hugged and joyfully bid each other farewell, ‘till next time. I took a mental picture of him that day, as he was smiling. It is etched, forever, in my mind’s eye. Until we meet again, Pete!