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January 3, 2003
Domenica Grandi Turriziani, a Stamford resident, died Wednesday, Jan. 1 at Mediplex of Stamford. She was 101.
She died of natural causes, according to her family.
Born April 23, 1901 in Frosinone, Italy, she was the daughter of the late Antonio and Anna Ferrante Grandi.
Mrs. Turriziani moved to the United States with her husband in 1928.
She is survived by two sons, Flavio Turriziani of Bronx, N.Y., and Gerard Turriziani of Stamford.
She was predeceased by her husband, Luigi Turriziani; two brothers; and a sister.
Services and burial will be private.
Memorial donations may be made to the Resident Council Fund, c/o Therapeutic Recreation, Mediplex, 710 Long Ridge Road, Stamford, CT 06905.
Nicholas F. Cognetta Funeral Home & Crematory, 104 Myrtle Ave., Stamford handled the arrangements.
July 14, 2003
Cecilia E. Unnever, a homemaker and lifelong Stamford resident, died Saturday, July 12, at Stamford Hospital. She was 99.
She died of natural causes, according to her family.
Born Aug. 30, 1903, in New York City, she was a daughter of the late Ernest and Julia Jennings Biessman.
During World War II, Mrs. Unnever was a laborer at Norma Hoffman and at Schick, both formerly in Stamford.
She was a member of the Turn of River Presbyterian Church, the Turn of River Fire Department Auxiliary and the Smith House Auxiliary, and she was a volunteer for the American Cancer Society, all in Stamford.
She is survived by a daughter, Dorothy Canzano of Stamford; a son, Herbert Unnever of Greeneville, Tenn.; and 10 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Besides her parents, she was predeceased in 1964 by her husband, Herbert Unnever; a daughter, Virginia Northrop; a brother, John Biessman; and a sister, Julia Biessman.
Calling hours will be 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, July 15, at Leo P. Gallagher & Son Funeral Home, 2900 Summer St., Stamford.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, July 16, at Turn of River Presbyterian Church, 49 Turn of River Road, Stamford. A reception will follow the memorial service at the church.
Burial will be private.
Memorial donations may be made to the Turn of River Presbyterian Church, 49 Turn of River Road, Stamford, CT 06905; or to the Smith House Auxiliary, 88 Rockrimmon Road, Stamford, CT 06903.
Adolph "Otto" Valenta
June 3, 2004
Adolph "Otto" Valenta, a lifelong Stamford resident, died Wednesday, June 2, at St. Camillus Health Care Center in Stamford. He was 86.
He died of natural causes, according to his family.
Born March 7, 1918, in Stamford, he was the son of the late Vincent and Rose Pekoreck Valenta.
Mr. Valenta worked as a pressman at The Advocate in Stamford for more than 30 years.
He served in the U.S. Army during World War II.
An avid gardener, Mr. Valenta also enjoyed traveling.
He is survived by his son, Vincent Valenta of Watertown; his daughter, Rosemary "Snooky" Ryan of Danbury; four grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by his wife, Catherine Mancusi Valenta; two brothers, George Valenta and Charles Valenta; and a sister, Lillian Geib.
Calling hours will be 4 to 7 p.m. Friday, June 4, at the Lacerenza Funeral Home, 8 Schuyler Ave., Stamford.
A prayer service will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, June 5, at the funeral home.
Burial will follow in Fairfield Memorial Park, Oaklawn Ave., Stamford.
The family requests that no flowers or donations be sent.
July 11, 2002
Antonio "Nino" Valenzisi, a Stamford resident, died Friday, July 5 in Vivo Valentia, Italy. He was 77.
He died of natural causes, according to his family.
Born Feb. 5, 1925, in Arena Province, Vivo Valentia, Italy, he was the son of the late Giovanni and Maria Vartuli Valenzisi.
Mr. Valenzisi lived in Buenos Aires, Argentina, from 1949 to 1951. He then lived in Arena, Italy, until 1960 before moving to Stamford.
He was a retired carpenter and a member of Local 210 Carpenter's Union. He was a member of St. Gabriel's Church and a member of of the Lega-Arena-Dasa Society of Stamford.
He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Maria Caterina Altamura Valenzisi of Stamford; a daughter, Maria Cahill of Stamford; two sons, John J. Valenzisi of Stamford and Ralph Valenzisi of Monroe; three sisters, Teresina Vartuli of Caberamata, Australia, Rachela DeFilippo of Stamford and Antonuzza Pagano of Italy; a brother, Pasquale Valenzisi of Arena, Italy; and eight grandchildren.
In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by a brother, Michele Valenzisi.
Calling hours will be 4 to 8 p.m. Friday, July 12, at the Nicholas F. Cognetta Funeral Home & Crematory, 104 Myrtle Ave., Stamford.
A funeral procession will depart the funeral home at 9:20 a.m. Saturday, July 13, and proceed to St. Gabriel's Church, 914 Newfield Ave., Stamford, for a Mass of Christian burial at 10 a.m.
Interment will follow at Queen of Peace Cemetery, Rockrimmon Road, Stamford.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Leukemia Society of Fairfield County, 500 Summer St., Suite 310, Stamford, CT 06902.
December 9, 2002
Joseph A. Varilla of Ridgefield died Saturday, Dec. 7 at his home. He was 65.
He died of complications of multiple sclerosis, his family said.
Born Aug. 11, 1937 in Freeland, Penn., he was the son of the late Andrew and Helen Bartkovich Varilla.
Mr. Varilla attended schools in Freeland, Penn., and was a graduate of M.M.I. Preparatory School and Lehigh University.
He worked for United Press International and Xerox Corp., where he was a communications executive at the time of this death.
Mr. Varilla was a U.S. Army veteran who enjoyed travel. He lived in Ridgefield for 33 years, and was a former resident of Rochester, N.Y.
He is survived by his wife of 42 years, Joan Mucha Varilla of Ridgefield; three daughters, Tracy Varilla of Greenwich, Mary Jones of New York City and Jennifer Varilla of Old Tappan, N.J.; a brother, Frank E. Varilla of Willow Grove, Penn.; and several nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by a sister, Virginia Daniele.
Calling hours are 5 to 8 p.m. today, Dec. 9 and Tuesday, Dec. 10 at Kane Funeral Home, 41 Catoonah St., Ridgefield.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 11 at St. Mary's Church in Ridgefield, with the Rev. Paul Murphy officiating.
Memorial donations in lieu of flowers my be made to the Western Connecticut Chapter of the Multiple Sclerosis Society, 1 Selleck St., Norwalk CT 06855.
August 1, 2003
Caterina Giuseppina Pagano Vartuli, a longtime Stamford resident and homemaker, died Tuesday, July 29, at Stamford Hospital. She was 89.
She died of natural causes, according to her family.
Born Dec. 28, 1913, in Vibo Valentia, Arena, Italy, she was a daughter of the late Nicola and Caterina Francese Pagano.
Mrs. Vartuli lived in Stamford for about 50 years. She was a member of Sacred Heart Church in Stamford.
She is survived by five sons, Frank J. Vartuli, Michael Vartuli and Dominick Vartuli, all of Stamford, Nicola Vartuli of Lake Charles, La. and Anthony Vartuli of West Haven; a sister, Michelina Valenzisi of Arena, Italy; eight grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren.
She was predeceased by her husband, Rosario Vartuli; two sisters, Maria Antonia Vartuli and Olimpiarosa Gobetti; and two brothers, Michael Pagano and Domenico Pagano.
Calling hours will be 4 to 8 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 3, at the Nicholas F. Cognetta Funeral Home & Crematory, 104 Myrtle Ave., Stamford.
A procession will depart the funeral home at 8:50 a.m. Monday, Aug. 4 for Sacred Heart Church, 37 Schuyler Ave., Stamford, where a Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 9:30 a.m.
Burial will follow in St. John' Catholic cemeteryin Darien.
March 4, 2003
Maria Concetta Anzoise Vavala, a longtime Stamford resident and co-founder of Vavala's Imperial Food Market in Stamford, died Sunday, March 2, at her home. She was 90.
She died of natural causes, according to her family.
Born Feb. 20, 1913 in Province Caranzaro, Dasa, Italy, she was the daughter of the late Domenico and Concetta Scopacasa Anzoise.
In 1949, she co-founded with her late husband Vavala's Imperial Food Market on Stamford's East Side, which she operated with her daughters until retiring in 1999. Until she fell ill recently, Mrs. Vavala could often be found working and keeping her children company in the deli.
In 1960, she began a bread-making business, Vittoria Vavala Six Crown Bakery in Stamford, where sold homemade bread to delis and supermarkets.
She was a member of the Anthonian Association of the Friends of St. Anthony of Padua Inc., the Confraternita della Immacolata in Dasa, Italy, and the Chiese di Santa Nicola in Dasa, Italy.
She was a longtime member of St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church in Stamford.
Mrs. Vavala was an avid cook and enjoyed gardening, knitting, picknicking at state parks and spending time at the beach. A 20-foot fig tree was the pride of her garden.
She is survived by five daughters, Mariangela J. Vavala, Concetta M. Jablonsky, Imperia A. Guarino, Vitttoria L. Vavala and Eleanora "Lola" Vavala, all of Stamford; a brother, Giuseppe Anzoise of Dasa, Italy; two sisters, Rosa Anzoise and Caterina Anzoise, both of Dasa, Italy; six grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
Besides her parents, she was predeceased by her husband, Giuseppe Raffaele Vavala; a daughter, Teresa Vavala, who died in 1997; and a son, Gasparo Vavala, who died in 1947.
Calling hours will be 4 to 8 p.m., Wednesday, March 5 at the Nicholas F. Cognetta Funeral Home & Crematory, 104 Myrtle Ave., Stamford.
A procession will leave the funeral home at 9:20 a.m., Thursday, March 6 for St. Mary's Roman Catholic Chuch, 566 Elm St., Stamford. A a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m.
Burial will follow at Queen of Peace cemeteryon Rockrimmon Road in Stamford.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to Visiting Nurse and Hospice Care of Southwestern Connecticut Inc., 1029 E. Main St., Stamford, CT 06902; or to St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church, 566 Elm St., Stamford, CT 06902.
James M. Veitch
October 3, 2003
James Murfin Veitch of Norwalk died Friday, Sept. 12, at Norwalk Hospital. He was 58.
He died of cardiac arrest, according to his family.
Born Oct. 12, 1944, in Pittsburgh, he was a son of Marjorie Murfin Veitch of New Canaan and the late James Veitch III.
Mr. Veitch was raised in Fairfield and graduated from The Forman School in Litchfield. He attended the American University in Mexico City.
He served with the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War.
In addition to his mother, Mr. Veitch is survived by a brother, Andrew Veitch of New Canaan.
He was predeceased by a sister, Holly Veitch Burns.
Funeral and burial will be private. A memorial service will be held at a later date.
Hoyt Funeral Home, 199 Main St., New Canaan, is handling arrangements.
April 23, 2003
Karen Lee Veitch of New Canaan, founder of Toddler Time Nursery School in New Canaan, died Tuesday, April 22, at Norwalk Hospital. She was 55.
She died of heart failure, according to her family.
Born Oct. 7, 1947, in Boston, she was a daughter of the late Paul and Joyce Anderson Jones Kind.
Mrs. Veitch received a bachelor's degree in elementary education from Baldwin-Wallace College in Berea, Ohio, and a master's degree in early childhood education from Adelphi University.
She founded and incorporated Toddler Time Nursery School, a child-care center in New Canaan. She had been the coordinator for the child development associate program at Norwalk Community College since 1977.
In 1999, Mrs. Veitch received the Outstanding Service Award from the Connecticut Association for Education of Young Children and was a member of Who's Who in American Education. She received the Karen Kind Veitch "One of a Kind Woman Award," established in her honor by Delta Zeta Sorority, Fairfield County Alumnae, and given annually since 1986.
Mrs. Veitch was president of South Fairfield Association of Young Children since 1999, an educational consultant to six child-care centers in Connecticut, and a trainer and trainer approval board member with Connecticut Charts a Course.
She was a member of the American Association of University Women; national chairwoman of Delta Zeta Sorority since 1982 and national vice president of college chapter operations; a board member of the New Canaan Community Foundation from 1992 to 1998; and vice president of the PEO Sisterhood from 1999 to 2000 and president in 2001.
She was a past trustee for the Congregational Church of New Canaan, a past president of the Kiwanis Club of New Canaan and past president of the South Fairfield Association for the Education of Young Children.
She is survived by her husband, Andy Veitch of New Canaan; three sons, Scott Thomas Manuel of San Diego, Keith Anderson Manuel of Norwalk and Todd Gregory Manuel of New Canaan; two brothers, Richard Kind of Springboro, Ohio, and Lawrence Kind of Midlothian, Va.; and a sister, Nancy Kind-Custad of Glendale, Ariz.
Calling hours will be 3 to 8 p.m. Thursday, April 24, at F. Hoyt Funeral Home, 199 Main St., New Canaan.
A memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Friday, April 25, at Congregational Church of New Canaan, 23 Park St., New Canaan.
Memorial donations may be made to the Early Childhood Education Department, c/o Norwalk Community College, 188 Richards Ave., Norwalk, CT 06854.
Marjorie K. Vela
December 11, 2003
Marjorie K. Vela, a Spanish teacher who lived in New Canaan for more than 40 years, died Monday, Dec. 8, at home. She was 89.
She died of natural causes, according to her family.
Born Aug. 10, 1914, in Altoona, Pa., she was the daughter of the late Rudolph and Martha Kleine.
Mrs. Vela traveled extensively through South America. For 18 years, she worked at New Canaan High School, where she taught Spanish and led 2,500 consecutive Monday and Thursday English as a Second Languages classes.
She was an active member of the Christian Science Church of New Canaan.
She is survived by her son, Luis F. Vela of Birmingham, Mich.; a daughter, Virginia Vela Haggerty of The Villages, Fla.; three grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
Calling hours will be noon to 12:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 14, at Hoyt Funeral Home, 199 Main St., New Canaan.
A memorial service will be at 12:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 14, at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to the Campus Crusade for Christ, Account No. 0426352, P.O Box 628222, Orlando, FL, 32862-8222; or to a local Salvation Army.
January 9, 2003
Carlos M. Velez, a longtime Stamford resident, died Monday, Jan. 6, at Stamford Hospital. He was 51.
He died of cancer, according to his family.
Born July 7, 1951, in Puerto Rico, he was a son of the late Dulcilio Velez and Josefa Rosario.
Mr. Velez was a construction worker, working first for Ralph Longo Construction Corp. in Greenwich and most recently for Arnold Roger Construction in Stamford.
He is survived by his partner of 12 years, Janet Hall of Stamford; three daughters, Marisol Velez of Puerto Rico, Beatrice Velez of Boston and a daughter in Florida; three sons, Carlos M. Velez Jr. of Puerto Rico, Junior Velez of Puerto Rico and Carlos Velez of Florida; five brothers, Hictor Rosario of Norwalk, Rafael Velez and Edwin Velez, both of Stamford, and Jose Velez and Linardo Velez, both of Bridgeport; three sisters, Anna Rosario, Carmen Velez and Lucy Velez, all of Puerto Rico; seven grandchildren; several uncles; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
A wake will be from 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 12, at Downer Funeral Home Inc., 31 Stillwater Ave., Stamford.
A funeral service will follow at 5 p.m. in the funeral home.
Burial will be at 10 a.m. Monday, Jan. 13, in Woodland Cemetery, 66 Woodland Place, Stamford.
February 12, 2003
Rose Marie Vertula of Las Vegas, wife of the late Fred Chiappetta, died Sunday, Feb. 9, at Vegas Valley Convalescent Hospital in Las Vegas. She was 82.
She died of a stroke, according to her family.
Born Dec. 17, 1920, in New Canaan, she lived most of her life in Stamford, where she was a homemaker.
She moved to Las Vegas 13 years ago to live with her daughter, Rose Mary Della Ratta.
In addition to her daughter, she is survived by a son, Fred Chiappetta Jr. of Alhambra, Calif.; a sister, Margaret Coppola of Dallas; a brother, George Vertula of Stamford; and four grandchildren.
A memorial Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 19, at Guardian Angel Cathedral, Las Vegas Boulevard and Desert Inn Road, Las Vegas.
Palm Mortuary, 7600 S. Eastern Ave., Las Vegas, is handling arrangements.
Pyrma D. Vezina
August 16, 2004
Pyrma D. Vezina of Stamford, a former Greenwich resident, died Saturday, Aug. 14, at home. She was 83.
She died of cancer, according to her family.
Born July, 11, 1921, in Yonkers, N.Y., she was a daughter of the late Humphrey D. and Theodora Mead Darrah.
Mrs. Vezina worked at Greenwich Country Day School as the girl's athletic director for 20 years, retiring in 1986. She served on the vestry, the altar guild and the service league at St. John's Episcopal Church in Stamford and was a member of the Order of the Amaranth and the Eastern Star.
She attended Greenwich Academy and the Barrington School in Massachusetts. She graduated from the Boston-Bouve College and Columbia University in New York.
She is survived by her husband, Richard S. Vezina of Stamford; a son, Scott Vezina of Greenwich; a daughter, Ellen V. Kapusta of Stamford; two brothers, Humphrey D. Darrah Jr. and William M. Darrah, both of Greenwich; and five grandchildren.
Calling hours will be 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 17, at Leo P. Gallagher & Son Funeral Home, 2900 Summer St., Stamford.
Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Friday, Aug. 20, at St. John's Episcopal Church, 628 Main St., Stamford. The Rev. Dr. Leander S. Harding will officiate.
Burial will follow in Long Ridge cemeteryon Erskine Road in Stamford.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Hospice Care Inc., 461 Atlantic St., Stamford, CT, 06902; or St. John's Episcopal Church, Scholarship Fund, 628 Main St., Stamford, CT 06901.
Marie B. Victor
September 18, 2003
Marie Bernadette Victor of Stamford, who worked at Stop & Shop Supermarket in Norwalk, died Wednesday, Sept. 3, at Stamford Hospital. She was 56.
She died of cardiopulmonary arrest, according to her death certificate.
Born Aug. 26, 1947, in Jeremie, Haiti, she was a daughter of the late Alphonse Victor and Jeanne Jacques.
She immigrated to the United States in 1989 and lived in Norwalk before moving to Stamford two years ago.
Ms. Victor worked at Stop & Shop for two years. She was a member of Laurel House in Stamford, the Haitian American Catholic Center in Stamford and the United Food and Commercial Worker's Union.
Ms. Victor is survived by two daughters, Vanissa Victor of Miami and Fabiola Victor of Port-au-Prince, Haiti; three sisters, Marie Claude Laguerre of Miami, Simone Victor of Norwalk and Suzette Victor of Port-au-Prince; four brothers, Pierre Marie Victor, Eric Victor, Raphael Victor and Emmanuel Victor ; three nieces; and a nephew.
A memorial service will be at 9 a.m. today, Sept. 18, at St. John Church, 279 Atlantic St., Stamford. A reception will follow at Laurel House, 1616 Washington Blvd. in Stamford.
Leo P. Gallagher & Son Funeral Home, 2900 Summer St., Stamford, is handling arrangements.
Paul V. Viggiano
October 14, 2003
Paul Vincent Viggiano, a veteran Stamford firefighter and longtime resident, died Wednesday, Oct. 8 at Robert Packer Hospital in Sayre, Pa. He was 76.
He died of cardiac arrest, according to his family.
Born July 15, 1927, in Stamford, he was the son of the late Salvatore and Hattie DeNaples Viggiano.
Mr. Viggiano was a Stamford firefighter for 34 years before retiring in 1984. He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy who served during World War II.
Mr. Viggiano is survived by his first wife, Antoinette Macri Viggiano of Stamford; and a daughter and three sons from that marriage, Kathi Mirto of Stamford, Paul Salvatore Viggiano of Trumbull, Joseph Michael Viggiano of Stamford and Salvatore Michael Viggiano of Stamford.
He also is survived by his second wife, Grace Milano Viggiano of Waverly, N.Y., and two sons and a daughter from that marriage, Paul Andrew Viggiano, Christopher Michael Viggiano and Dana Noelle Viggiano, all of Waverly, N.Y.
He also is survived by a sister, Annette O'Hagan of Stamford; and nine grandchildren.
There will be no calling hours.
Services and burial will be private.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in honor of Joseph Michael Viggiano to ARI of Stamford, 174 Richmond Hill Ave., Stamford, CT, 06902.
The Nicholas F. Cognetta Funeral Home & Crematory, 104 Myrtle Ave., Stamford, is handling arrangements.
Oneida Marie Rush-Vil
November 5, 2003
Oneida Marie Rush-Vil of Norwalk, a former Stamford resident, died Monday, Nov. 3 at Norwalk Hospital. She was 43.
She died of heart failure after long battle with cancer, according to her family.
Born March 30, 1960, in Charlottesville, Va., she was a daughter of the late Isaac Jerome Rush Sr. and Dorothy Lee Johnson Rush.
Mrs. Rush-Vil was a member of Wilson Memorial COGIC in Stamford, where she was missionary for the Second Chance Ministry, vice president of the Heavenly Zion Choir, a member of the Usher Board, and several other organizations in the church.
She is survived by her husband, Jean Vil of Norwalk; two daughters, Katrina Marie Atkinson of Bridgeport and Ashley Lynn Corpuz of Norwalk; a sister, Avis C. Rush-Daniels of Stamford; a grandaughter; and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
She was predeceased by a brother, Isaac Jerome Rush Jr.; and two sisters, Izita Lanell Rush and Chandra Yvette Shabazz.
Calling hours are 10 a.m. to noon Friday, Nov. 7 at Wilson Memorial COGIC, 304 Richmond Hill Ave., Stamford, with Elder Harold McCord officiating.
Services will follow in the church. Burial will follow at Park cemeteryin Bridgeport.
Downer Funeral Home, 31 Stillwater Ave., Stamford, is handling arrangements.
Frank J. Villeroel
October 31, 2003
Frank J. Villeroel of Shelton, who worked in the Sheetrock business, died Wednesday, Oct. 29, at Yale-New Haven Hospital. He was 17.
He died after he was struck by a car in Derby, according to his family.
Born Jan. 30, 1986, in Stamford, he was the son of Frank J. Villeroel Sr. of Shelton and Suzanne Fecteau of Bridgeport.
He lived in Shelton for most of his life and worked in the Sheetrock business with his father.
In addition to his parents, he is survived by a brother, Carmelo Umpierre Jr. of Bridgeport; his maternal grandparents, Frank D. and Connie Villeroel of Shelton; his maternal grandparents, John and Marie Fecteau of Stamford; and several aunts and uncles.
Calling hours will be 3 to 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 1, at Riverview Funeral Home, 390 River Road, Shelton.
A service will follow calling hours at the funeral home. The Rev. Sherman Driver of Beacon Hill Evangelical Free Church of Monroe will officiate.
A private burial will take place in Riverside cemeteryin Shelton.
Memorial donations may be made to the Juvenile Research Foundation International, 120 Wall St., New York, NY 10005-4001; or the Frank J. Villeroel Jr. Fund, c/o Webster Bank, Attn: Jean Allan, 502 Howe Ave., Shelton, CT 06484.
Philomena Vitti
October 15, 2003
Philomena "Fannie" Vitti, a longtime Stamford resident who worked as an Advocate copy editor for many years, died Monday, Oct. 13, at Greenwich Hospital. She was 96.
She died of natural causes, according to her family.
Born April 8, 1907, in New York City, she was the daughter of the late Quintillo and Rose Macari Buzzeo.
Mrs. Vitti attended public and parochial schools in New York City. When she was a teenager, she moved to Stamford, where she worked at The Advocate until her marriage to John Vitti on Jan. 1, 1925.
From the 1950s through the 1990s, Mrs. Vitti divided her time between her home in Stamford and her sons' homes in Beverly Hills, Calif., and Newport Beach, Calif. According to her family, Mrs. Vitti played hostess to many celebrities, including Lana Turner, Charlton Heston and Joe DiMaggio.
Mrs. Vitti was a gourmet cook and a gifted needlework artist. She was a member of St. Leo's Craft Group in Stamford.
She is survived by two sons, Ralph Vitti, whose stage name is Michael Dante of Rancho Mirage, Calif., and Anthony Vitti of Monarch Beach, Calif.; three daughters, Carolyn Trachtenburg and Rose Sette, both of Stamford, and Yolande Horan of Chester; six grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
She was predeceased in 1973 by her husband.
Calling hours will be 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 16, at Lacerenza Funeral Home, 8 Schuyler Ave., Stamford.
A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 9:30 a.m. Friday, Oct. 17, at Sacred Heart Church, 37 Schuyler Ave., Stamford.
Burial will follow in St. John's cemeteryin Darien.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to the Church of St. Stefano in Settefrati, Italy, in memory of John Terenzio Vitti. Checks should be made to Parrocchio di St. Stefano, c/o Debbie Ferrer, 80 Christie Hill Road, Darien, CT 06820.
October 5, 2003
Joseph P. Vitti, a longtime Darien resident and a former sports editor of The Advocate, died Friday, Oct. 3, at Stamford Hospital. He was 79.
He died of cancer, according to his family.
Born Sept. 22, 1924, in Stamford, he was a son of the late Dominic and Frances DePreta Vitti.
Mr. Vitti worked as sports editor of the former Darien Review for 21 years before being named sports editor of The Advocate.
He was a 1942 graduate of Darien High School where he was a member of the varsity basketball, baseball and soccer teams.
After graduating form high school, Mr. Vitti served with the U.S. Marine Corps in the Asia-Pacific theater. He was honorably discharged in 1945.
He then attended Rider College in New Jersey, where he majored in journalism and also lettered in baseball, golf and soccer.
Mr. Vitti was active in Darien community athletic activities including the Darien Little League and Darien 13-15 Babe Ruth Baseball League.
His interest and dedication to athletics and journalism rubbed off on his two sons. Michael P. Vitti of Darien was state champion gymnast in high school and Joseph Vitti of Indianapolis works as a photographer at the Indianapolis Star.
"I just followed in his footsteps," the younger Joseph Vitti said. "As a kid, I would carry his camera bag with me on assignments."
Mr. Vitti was a member of the Darien Parks and Recreation Commission and had memberships in the Connecticut Sports Writers' Alliance, Darien Knights of Columbus, Piedmont Associates Social Club, lay committee of the Darien Public School Physical Education Curriculum Committee, and he was a charter member and former officer of the Darien Old Timers Athletic Association.
"Although he was never president, he was always very involved with the group," said Darien resident Charles Saverine, who was a Old Timers Athletic Association member alongside Mr. Vitti and shared lifetime honors with him in 1992. The two also played baseball with each other after Mr. Vitti left the Marines.
In addition to his two sons, he is survived by his wife, Evelyn K. Vitti of Darien; a daughter, Judy V. Ferris of Darien; a brother, James Vitti of Rancho Cordova, Calif.; a sister, Chic Casale of Stamford; and four grandchildren.
Calling hours will be 6 to 8 p.m. Monday, Oct. 7, at Edward Lawrence Funeral Home, 2110 Post Road.
Services and burial are private.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Post 53 Ambulance, P.O. Box 2066, Darien, CT 06820.
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