Obituary of Michael V. Laspina

Michael Vincent Laspina, 27, of Steam Mill Road, Odessa, NY, died June 30, 2014 at Hospicare Residence in Ithaca, NY from injuries received in an auto accident in May. Funeral Services will be held on Friday, July 4th at 10:00 AM at Brick Chapel Church, Canton with Rev. Michael P. Catanzaro officiating. The family will receive family and friends on Thursday from 5-8 PM at the Lawrence Funeral Home, Canton. Burial will be in Brick Chapel Cemetery. Michael was born April 11, 1987, in Rhinebeck, NY, a son of Robert L. and Bonnie (Hill) Laspina of Aurora, NY. He graduated Southern Cayuga High School in 2006. Surviving in addition to his loving parents are his sisters, Amy (Mark) Smith of Clinton, NY and Shannon Gotham Stephenson of Scipio Center, NY; a brother, Raymond Stephenson of Ithaca and several nephews. He was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Peter & Barbara Laspina; Aunt & uncle, Jim & Paul Laspina; a nephew, Joshua Stephenson and a cousin Joshua Laspina. Michael worked in many Ithaca area restaurants and was a well known figure in town. He loved the outdoors, camping, gardening, landscaping and cutting wood. He loved to cook, was hard working, fun loving, outgoing, gregarious, compassionate, a generous spirit, sensitive and intolerant to injustice. In lieu of flowers it is suggested, in the spirit of Michael, donate a children's book to your local library or school library so the children of our communities can continue to use their imaginations and explore.