Salvatore J. LaBella

Salvatore J. LaBella
The world lost a great family man last Sunday, when Salvatore J. LaBella of Bolton, formerly of Haddam, died at 88 on December 26, 2021 at St. Francis Hospital. Never one to spoil a good meal, he had the courtesy to not interfere with Christmas before joining his parents Joseph and Angelina (Gullitti) LaBella, where we are sure he and his mother are now running God's kitchen. He was born in Middletown, CT, a proud Sicilian-American, and in him you could see the best of both cultures. He had a tireless work ethic, as exemplified first as a sailor on a Naval destroyer, then as a union carpenter, and finally at Pratt & Whitney, where he worked overtime for decades constructing fan assemblies. For years, before starting on second shift Sal would join his late brother Frank S. LaBella at his mother's house for a homecooked meal and family company. He used his skills to personally build the houses his family lived in, and with the help of his bride of 57 years, Virginia "Ginny" M. (Ierardi) LaBella, he raised three beautiful daughters. His home cooking, much of which originated in his backyard garden, drew a constant stream of family and friends. When not working, he took his family on long vacations to Cape Cod, where he taught generations the art of clamming, card playing, and relaxing on the beach. He used his encyclopedic memory and dry humor to both entertain and teach, whether recollecting his youth as a "River Rat" or snickering as he stole a trick at the Set Back table. Until the very end, Sal stayed engaged with the world, reading the Hartford Courant, watching Boston sports, and sharing his culinary skills on his YouTube channel "Sicilian Sal." In addition to his wife, he is survived by his daughters, Lisa and her husband Roberto Zaccardelli of Bolton, Pamela LaBella of Studio City, CA, and Kristen LaBella and her fiancé John Segien of Manchester; granddaughters, Giuliana and Alessandra Zaccardelli, Angelina and Lucia Spielman; and many nieces and nephews. Special thank you to the teams at the medical and cardiac ICUs at St. Francis Hospital, and to Eric and his team at Fresenius Kidney Care East Hartford, for their compassionate care of our father and grandfather over the past few years. His Funeral Liturgy will be held on Thursday, December 30th at 12 p.m. at St. Francis of Assisi Church, Elm St., Middletown. Burial, with military honors, will follow in St. Sebastian Cemetery, Rockfall. Friends may call at Biega Funeral Home, 3 Silver St., Middletown, on Thursday from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Masks are required at all services. In lieu of flowers, those who wish may send memorial contributions to K9s for Warriors (https://www.k9sforwarriors.org/) or the American Kidney Fund (http://www.kidneyfund.org/). To share memories or express condolences online please visit www.biegafuneralhome.com.