John Vitale

1928 - 2023

John Vitale
John Vitale, 94, of Woodbridge, passed away peacefully at home on February 4, 2023, surrounded by his family. John was married for 60 years to his beloved wife Mary D. Vitale, who predeceased him. He was the loving father of the Hon. Elpedio N. Vitale (Robin) of Madison, Jennifer Fiondella (Mike) of Bethany, and John Vitale Jr. (Lisa) of Woodbridge. He was the beloved grandfather of Laura Vitale (Chris Wahrenburg), Amanda Waddicor (Nicholas), Michael Fiondella, Nicholas Fiondella (Alyssa), Mary Rose Fiondella, and John Paul Vitale. He had a sweet bond with his great-grandchildren Chloe and Ryan Wahrenburg and Owen and Iris Waddicor. He was predeceased by his brothers Frank, Ralph, Michael, Nicholas, and Andrew, and his sisters Ann, Elizabeth and Mary. John Vitale was born in New Haven on October 26, 1928, to Italian immigrants Elpidio and Genevieve P. Vitale. He graduated from the Boardman Trade School in 1947 and had a long career as an automobile mechanic. From 1955 to 1977, he was a self-employed mechanic and dealer-operator for the Gulf Oil Corporation, doing business as Vitale's Gulf Service Station on the corner of Whalley Avenue and the Boulevard in New Haven. He later worked as the lead mechanic at Ekblade Oldsmobile in Hamden until his retirement. John made Woodbridge his home for almost 65 years. John served his country honorably during the Korean War. During the war, John was stationed in Germany where he used his mechanic skills to lead a team of men who were tasked with troubleshooting vehicular issues in the aftermath of the Berlin Airlift. Later in life, John would fondly reminisce about earning second place in a battalion-wide fitness competition. He was very proud that all of his brothers served the country overseas during World War II and Korea. John was dedicated to his Catholic faith. He enjoyed attending concerts and shows with his wife Mary, playing cards, and visits to the casino. He loved family vacations to the beach with his children and grandchildren. He was an avid New York Yankees fan and could often be found listening to games while holding a transistor radio to his ear. He particularly loved "holding court" at his large kitchen table every weekend, where he entertained family and friends with lively discussions about various topics while his wife Mary made delicious food for them and listened in. Nothing was more important to John than his family and extended family. He had a big and generous heart and could always be counted on for help with anything. He will be deeply missed. His funeral procession will leave the North Haven Funeral Home at 36 Washington Avenue on Friday, February 10 at 9:15 a.m. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at Our Lady of the Assumption Church on Center Road in Woodbridge at 10:00 a.m. Interment will follow at Eastside Cemetery in Woodbridge. The visiting hours will be Thursday, February 9 from 4 to 8 p.m. In lieu of flowers, a donation may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105. www.northhavenfuneral.com