Rev. Joseph J. Cretella

Rev. Joseph J. Cretella Jr., age 87, of Madison, Alabama, formerly of Wallingford passed away peacefully at home on August 9, 2025. He was the loving husband of the late Rose Ann LaFemina Cretella. Joseph was born in New Haven, the son of the late Joseph Sr. and Evelyn Tamburine Cretella.

Joseph served in the Peace Corps from 1961 to 1965, dedicating himself to helping communities abroad. After returning home, he taught Spanish and Latin at North Branford High School, where he inspired countless students. He later led the Wallingford Adult Education Program as a Chairman of the Board, fostering lifelong learning in his community.

Ordained as a Deacon in June 1978, he served faithfully for many years at Holy Trinity in Wallingford as well as St. Barnabas and St. Frances Cabrini in North Haven. After the death of his wife Rose Ann in 2007, he began studies for priesthood at Holy Apostles Seminary in Cromwell, CT and was ordained to the Priesthood on May 15, 2010, at the Cathedral of Saint Joseph by the Archbishop of Hartford, the Most Reverend Henry Mansell.

His priestly assignments included Corpus Christi/Sacred Heart Parish in Wethersfield and the Torrington cluster of churches as Parochial Vicar. He then served the parish of St. Bernard in Tariffville as Parochial Vicar and then later Administrator and Pastor. He retired from active ministry in 2015 at the age of 77.

He is survived by his children, Joseph J. Cretella III and his wife Melissa Cretella of Milford, Natalie Hoha and her husband David of Madison, AL, his grandchildren Rachel Runolfson and her husband Reid of Troutman, NC, Davis Fairchild and his wife, Karissa of Olympia WA, Christian Cretella of Denver CO, Cassandra Constant and her husband Christopher of Harvest, AL, Eric Cretella of Ft. Lauderdale, FL, Joseph J. Cretella IV, of Milford, and Jensen Cretella of Milford, his great grandchildren Roseann Constant, Landon and Miles Runolfson, and expecting 2 more in 2025, and his siblings Thomas Cretella of Clinton, and Joan Marotto of Wallingford.

In addition to his parents and wife, he was also predeceased by his son Anthony Thomas "Tony" Cretella, sister-in-law Denise Cretella, brother-in-law George Marotto, and his nephew Thomas Wood.

Rev. Cretella's family will receive relatives and friends at the Wallingford Funeral Home 809 N. Main St Ext., Wallingford on Monday August 18th, from 4:00 – 7:00pm. His funeral cortege will leave the funeral home on Tuesday morning at 10:30am for a Mass of Christian Burial in Most Holy Trinity Church, 84 N. Colony Rd., Wallingford at 11:00am. Interment will be private in the family plot in St. Lawrence Cemetery, West Haven.