Mr. Andrea Giuliano Vellani

ANDREA GIULIANO VELLANI 1927 – 2017 Andrea "Andy" Giuliano Vellani age 89 of Bellevue, NE passed away on Saturday, February 18, 2017 at his residence. He was born on June 28, 1927, the only son of Giuseppe and Olga (Musich) Vellani in the Italian city of Trieste in the province of Friuli Venezia-Giulia in northeast Italy. Andy was raised and schooled Trieste. After graduating high school, he was accepted into the Italian Air Force academy (Accademia Aeronautica) graduating with a degree in Military Science in 1948. Following graduation he started his career in the Italian Air Force as a fighter pilot. In 1955, while on temporary duty in Canada, he was introduced to his future wife Daphne Fey Hughes through the wife of a fellow Italian Air Force pilot. After returning to Italy they kept in touch through letters. Daphne's teaching career led her to a three year teaching position with the Royal Canadian Air Force in Germany. This allowed Andy and Daphne time together as their schedules allowed until Daphne returned to Canada in 1958. In 1959 Andy was again on temporary duty this time in Texas and took the opportunity to marry Daphne in Winnipeg, Canada the same year. Together they returned to his Air Force duties in Italy to start their married lives together. In 1961 their first son Paul was born. Soon after Andy decided to retire from the Italian Air Force and the family of three moved to Winnipeg eventually to emigrate a year later to the United States in search of a better life for his young family. Andy found work in Los Angeles in the textile industry and attended night school for his certificate in architectural drafting. Having acquired his certificate he improved his position with his employer. Seeking to provide his family better Andy eventually left the textile industry when an opportunity arose as a field engineer with a dewatering company in Orange, CA. In 1968 their second son Sergio was born. Then in 1971, always looking to improve life for his family Andy acquired a sales representative position with an Italian plastics company and moved his family to Coram, New York. In 1976 he proudly became a United States citizen to help further his career goals. In 1979, tired of New England winters and seeking better job prospects he returned the Vellani family to the Los Angeles area where he pursued defense contract work as a draftsman and technical illustrator. In 1991 after working for most of the top aerospace companies in southern California he retired from Boeing Corporation and with Daphne moved to the high desert country near Aguanga, CA making close friends and enjoying the dry climate, open spaces, and wild life. This time allowed Andy and Daphne to spend holidays with family and repeatedly travel to Italy and Great Britain to see friends and family. In the fall of 2013 they left Aguanga to be closer to family in Bellevue, NE. It was at this time Andy learned he had developed mesothelioma. For the next 30 months he courageously battled his cancer. Andy is survived by his wife of fifty seven years: Daphne Vellani of Bellevue, NE; two sons: Paul Vellani of Bellevue, NE; Sergio Vellani and wife Kristine of Bellevue, NE; two granddaughters: Aime and Andrea Vellani; and many friends. He was preceded in death by his parents: Giuseppe and Olga Vellani. A Graveside Service will held at 2:00 P.M., Wednesday, February 22, 2017 at Bellevue Cemetery in Bellevue with Pastor Steve Holdaway and Pastor L.D. Richardson officiating.

Mr. Andrea Giuliano Vellani

June 28, 1927 - February 18, 2017