JOSEPH VINCENT MAZZELLA, SR
Age 95 of Ledyard passed away peacefully at home on Dec. 4, 2017 with Alzheimers. He hopes that you remember his stories, humor & the smell of his Captain Black pipe tobacco.
Joseph was born in the Bronx, NY on June 5,obit
1922, the son of Vincent & Rose Romano Mazzella. He grew up on North Road & attended Poquonnock Bridge School & Fitch High School. Joseph was married to Beryl (“Dot”) Griffiths on April 25,1964 in Gales Ferry, CT. Beryl passed away on Dec. 3, 2000, missing his passing date by one day.
Joseph served in the US Army during WWII as a PFC/Specialist & captured Rome on his birthday in 1944 under Gen Mark W Clark. He served in the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater of Ops with Company K, 339th Infantry Regiment, 85th Infantry Division as a Light Truck Driver & frontline sharpshooter in Rome-Arno, N Apennines & the Po Valley. He was awarded the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater Campaign Ribbon, Combat Infantryman Badge, Purple Heart Medal, Bronze Star Medal, Good Conduct Medal & the WWII Victory Medal.
He was a Lieutenant with Groton Town Auxiliary Police & was elected president of Groton Auxiliary Police Assoc on Jan.15,1956. He was appointed Supernumerary for Groton City Police July 16,1958 & retired with Ledyard Police (1965-1977).
Prior to the war he worked as a supervisor at George C. Moore Textiles, Westerly, then Sheffield Tubing, New London, where he had two deferments for the war while making morphine kits for soldiers. After the war he worked for Arwood Corp in Groton as wax room supervisor & retired in 1984 after 33 yrs. He was a member of the VFW, New London & Mystic.
He resided with & was lovingly cared for by his daughter, Sherry Wheeler & grandchildren Justine & Owen Wheeler with heartfelt thanks to Hospice & Visiting Angels. He is survived by a son Joseph V. Mazzella, Jr (Joan) of Westerly, stepson Richard Lise of Ledyard, stepdaughter Lorraine Lober (Herbert) of Uncasville, brother Philip Mazzella (Jean) of Mumford Cove, sister-in-law Frances Mazzella of Preston, 5 more grandchildren & 2 greatgrandchildren.
Visiting hours will be held on Friday, 4-6pm with the Ledyard Police Honor Guard at the Byles-Groton Memorial Home, 310 Thames St. Private burial with Military Honors will be in St. Mary Cemetery, New London. Donations in his memory may be directed to the Alzheimer’s Association
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