Lidia and Felice would split as her star grew and they began to have disagreements over the pace of expanding their restaurant empire. New York Lifestyles Magazine reported that Felice gave his shares in the couple's business to his two children upon their split.
Felice would pass away in 2010.
An obituary published in The New York Times said that Felice died on December 12, 2010. It called him a loving grandfather of Olivia, Lorenzo, Miles, Ethan, and Julia. The obit said Felice was a devoted brother to Yolanda Valic and Guerino Bastianich.
Lidia would continue to grow their legacy and include members of her own family in the business. For example, she would use produce grown in the garden of her beloved mother Erminia Motika as she worked on new flavors for her restaurant, and her mother's kitchen was also the stage setting for all four of Lidia's most recent PBS television series.
