Obituary of Joseph A. Delessio

Joseph Anthony Delessio, age 88, beloved husband of Rosemarie Modica Delessio of Stratford, passed away on Tuesday, December 5, 2017 at his home. Born in Bridgeport on July 7, 1929, he was a son of the late Daniel and Syliva (Bontatibus) Delessio. He spent his childhood in Norwich CT with his grandparents and returned to the Bridgeport area in his late teens. He quit high school and joined the service before the end of WWII, a veteran with three years of service in the Air Corps and Air Force, which included a two year tour of duty in Alaska. He also served nine years in CNG in 283rd AAA and 242nd Eng Bn. After returning to Bridgeport he worked for many different companies in the Bridgeport area before joining Sikorsky Aircraft where he worked for 38 years. While working at Sikorsky he took the State Equivalent Exam and followed up by attending Bridgeport Engineering Institute at night where he received a BSME. He worked in the Engineering Department for 26 years in Transmission Design and Development and six years in charge of the Overhaul and Repair Engineering Departments.

Joe was very active in the local ten pin bowling association for over 60 years as Director, Vice President and President and active in AJBC and YABA youth bowling for 20 years as coach, instructor, director, vice president and secretary-treasurer of the local YABA association.

Joe also bowled in 27 National Tournaments, attended 20 National Conventions including five as a Delegate and once as a State Delegate. He expanded his service in 1992 to the Connecticut State Bowling Association level as Director, Vice-President for three years, President for one year and Executive Director of The State Hall of Fame for three years. All of these Meritorious Service credentials were recognized when he was inducted into the Greater Bridgeport/Norwalk Bowling Association Hall of Fame in 1985, The Connecticut State Bowling Association Hall of Fame in 1998 and the Northeast Council Bowling Hall of Fame in 2006 for his contributions to the sport of ten pin bowling.

After being discharged from the service he returned to the Bridgeport area and found the love of his life and married his loving wife Rosemarie Modica whom he cherished. They both loved to dance and went almost every Saturday night. They were married for over 65 years and had two daughters.

Joe is survived by his wife Rosemarie and two daughters, Joann Pavia and her husband Michael and Lori Zanchetti and her husband Ron, four loving grandchildren, Dr. Daniel Zanchetti and his wife Jill, Linsey Zanchetti and Michael and Matthew Pavia as well as three great grandchildren, William, Lucy and Benjamin Zanchetti. He was pre-deceased by a sister, Celia Decarlo of Las Vegas and a brother, Daniel Delessio in Minnesota.

Joe loved his family, especially his grandchildren and loved being in their company. His greatest enjoyment was when the family would get together for dinner, picnics or the holidays. Joe always said "Nobody could've had a better life than I did, I enjoyed every part of it".

The family would like to thank his caregivers Abigail Bonsu and Weslawa (Vischa) Krasewska.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday, December 11, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. in St. Mark Church, 500 Wigwam Lane, Stratford. Interment will be private. Friends may greet the family on Monday morning from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the Abriola Parkview Funeral Home, 419 White Plains Road, Trumbull.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to American Heart Association, 5 Brookside Dr., Wallingford, CT 06492.