Benedetto (Bennie) DeBrevi was born on September 1, 1927 in Gallesano, Italy. After WWII, international boundaries were redrawn and Bennie was declared a man without a country and was forced to relocate. Through a Catholic placement organization, he chose to come to Kansas City, Missouri.

Bennie arrived in Kansas City in September of 1951 with a few dollars in his pocket and just as many words of English. Holy Rosary Parish in Kansas City helped him and what would become a group of lifelong friends to learn English and find work. After a few years he was offered a job to manage Don's Market on Southwest Boulevard where he remained for over 55 years.

While visiting his parents in Lido di Venezia, Italy he saw a beautiful young lady strolling with her friends and said to himself, that's the girl I'm going to marry. The next day he met her and said "my name is Benedetto DeBrevi, will you marry me?" They exchanged love letters over the next year and as he promised, he returned to marry the only love of his life Graziella in June of 1961. In just a few weeks from now, they would have celebrated their 56 ^th wedding anniversary.

Bennie and Graziella settled in the Northeast area of Kansas City where they raised three adoring children, eight grandchildren, and one great grandchild. Bennie loved the game of tennis and was a passionate player until he physically could not play anymore just a few years ago to which he happily said "I left my knee out on the courts and loved every minute of it." Bennie also loved the water and swam twice per week until his final days.

Bennie was an avid reader, enjoyed studying and passionately speaking about politics, history, geography, and soccer. He actively wrote a column in his hometown newspaper (Il Nostro Gallesano) for many decades.  "Papa Bennie" loved to share the many stories of his life with family and friends.

Bennie suffered a stroke on May 15 ^th and on Friday May 26 ^th, with Graziella, his three children and their respective spouses, and one grandchild at his bedside, Benedetto DeBrevi took his final breath and began his journey to Eternal Rest.

Bennie is survived by his loving wife, Graziella; his children, Andrew DeBrevi (Dawn Hamilton), Christina Smith (David), and Michael DeBrevi (Theresa); his grandchildren, Vanessa DeBrevi, Stephanie DeBrevi, Carrie Stewart, Kaylea Smith, Jakob Smith, Gloriana Smith, Alessandro DeBrevi, Isabella DeBrevi; and great-granddaughter, Emma DeBrevi.

The Rosary will be prayed at 4:30 p.m. followed by visitation from 5-8 p.m. on Wednesday, May 31 at Passantino Bros. Funeral Home, 2117 Independence Blvd., Kansas City, MO 64124. Family and friends will gather on Thursday, June 1 at Holy Rosary Catholic Church, 911 Missouri Avenue, Kansas City, Missouri 64106 where the Funeral Mass will begin at 10 a.m. Inurnment will follow at White Chapel Cemetery 6600 NE Antioch Rd, Gladstone, MO 64119. The family requests no flowers.

Condolences may be offered at www.passantinobros.com