Onofrio Labbate, 52, of Palatine, a restaurant owner, died of a heart attack Sunday, April 28, in Northwest Community Hospital in Arlington Heights. Born in Italy, Mr. Labbate was 24 when he immigrated to the United States. He settled in New York and moved to the Chicago area in 1990. He operated several pizzerias, including Milano Pizza on Chicago’s Northwest Side. Most recently, Mr. Labbate was working on opening additional pizzerias in Indiana and Ohio. “He would make the pizzas,” said his daughter, Anna Labbate-Ruiz. “He never gave up when things were bad. He always looked at the brighter side of things.” Other survivors include his wife, Maria; a son, Giovanni; two sisters, Catarina Balzano and Rosa; two brothers, Vito and Nicole; and two grandchildren. Prayers will be said at 9 a.m. Thursday in Kolssak Funeral Home, 189 S. Milwaukee Ave., Wheeling. Mass will be said at 9:30 a.m. Thursday in St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church, 181 W. Dundee Rd., Wheeling.
