Anthony J. "Tony" Colletti

Anthony J. "Tony" Colletti, 73, of Manchester, passed away peacefully at home on Tuesday, December 11, 2007.

He was born August 19, 1934, in Queens, N.Y., son of the late Joseph Anthony Colletti and Mary (DePasquale) Colletti, and lived in Brooklyn as a boy where the family and the neighborhood fondly called him Sonny. Tony then moved to East Hartford at the age of twelve. He was a graduate of East Hartford High School and enjoyed attending his class reunions ever since. Tony eventually moved to Manchester where he settled in to raise his family, which he adored and cherished. He was a journeyman sheet-metal worker with local 40 out of Hartford for 42 years where he was personally involved in projects all over the Northeast, including one major project in Boston and many projects all over Connecticut, such as the Essex Steam Train and at Millstone. Tony also taught the apprenticeship program for Local 40 for many years. He enjoyed golfing, bowling, target shooting, coin collecting, slot car racing, NASCAR, and playing computer games with his family. He was Frank Sinatra's number 1 fan. Tony spent much time doting on his precious cat Jimmy (named for James Cagney, whom he resembled). His favorite pastime, however, was any time spent with his beloved family and his dear friends. His heart was pure. He was a loving husband, father, brother, grandfather, and friend whose blue eyes twinkled and whose laugh cheered the world. He will be forever loved and missed.

Tony is survived by his wife, sweetheart, and the love of his life, Gerlinde (Pfau) Colletti, whom he was blissfully married and devoted to for 39 years. He is also survived by five children, Anthony Joseph Colletti Jr. and his wife, Joanne, of Vernon, Cari Duigou and her husband, Jeffery, of Colchester, Erin Kuczynski and her husband, Russ, of Coventry, Gerlinde Orfitelli and her husband, John, of Manchester, and Joseph Anthony Colletti and his wife, Kathleen, of Glastonbury; 13 grandchildren, Erin, Ashley, Chelsea, Ryan, Eileen, Anthony ("AJ"), Jeffery, Evan, Lindsay, Christopher, Samantha, Joseph, and Natalie; two great-grandchildren, Selena and Rayana; his brother and best friend, Thomas Colletti and his wife, Barbara, of Manchester; two sisters, Lucille Vernali and her husband, Tony, of Manchester, and Mary Yagmin of Wethersfield; a brother-in-law, Charles Avery of Manchester; a sister-in-law, Eileen Colletti of Manchester; and many cousins, nieces, nephews, relatives and friends. Besides his parents, Tony was predeceased by two sisters, Angela Colletti and Carmen Avery; and two brothers, Joseph and John Colletti.

Funeral services will be Saturday, December 15, 2007, at 10 a.m. at Watkins Funeral Home, 142 East Center St., Manchester. Burial will follow in East Cemetery, Manchester.

Calling hours will be Friday, Dec. 14, 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association, 1 Union St., Suite 301, Robbinsville, NJ 08691, or to the Humane Society of CT, 701 Russell Rd., Newington, CT 06111.

To sign the online guestbook, or for directions to the funeral home, go to:

www.holmes-watkinsfuneralhomes.com