John Patrick Cello

1934 - 2022

John Patrick Cello, of Meriden, Connecticut, passed away on Saturday, January 29, 2022. John was born in Meriden on January 30, 1934, and was the son of the late Patsy and Donata Rich Cello. John was a graduate of the Meriden High School Class of 1952. He received his bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Bryant College Class of 1958. John served in the U.S. Marine Corp, stationed in Albany, Georgia, where he supervised keypunch record operations. After completing one tour of duty with the Marines, he was employed at ARLJ in Meriden before becoming employed with the CT State Department of Labor from which he retired in 1997. During his career of many years there, John served as an Employment Interviewer, a Job Service Supervisor, and a State Apprenticeship Coordinator. Out of all of his jobs, John had great pride in being a U.S. Marine. He was an active member of the Marine Corps League and the American Legion chapters in Meriden, CT. During the many years of his employment with the CT State Department of Labor, John touched the lives of many people in finding them gainful employment and placing individuals in apprenticeship training programs.

Aside from his work, John loved spending time with his family and friends. Without question, he was always there to help everyone, whether it was working on a home improvement project or jump starting a lawnmower. He enjoyed completing construction challenges, especially with his brother-in-law and with his partner June and her family. John also had great pride in his home and in his garden; he enjoyed growing a variety of tomatoes for eating and making sauce. In addition to being a helping hand to his family and friends, John always enjoyed traveling. Some of his favorite trips were to places such as Hawaii, San Francisco, and Martha's Vineyard, where he loved spending time with June's family. John also loved his trips to Disney, and he took on the role of being the great uncle who accompanied his nieces on any rides they had desired.

John is survived by his niece, Patricia Michelson of Meriden, his nephew Michael Dewey and wife Meg of Perris, California, his great-nieces Erin Herpok and her husband Michael of Meriden, Brittany Culver and her husband Nicholas of Prospect, and his great-grand nieces and nephews, Lucas, Mason, Gwen, Mila, and Everly. John is also survived by his longtime partner, June Spencer, of Southington, and her two daughters, Cheri Cluff of Vineyard Haven, MA, and Janet Marino of Virginia Beach, VA, and June's grandson, Luka Milekic and his wife Maggie of Amherst, MA. He also leaves many cousins, especially Richard Julius, of Meriden, with whom he visited every Tuesday morning for coffee and conversation. He is predeceased by his sister, Marie Dewey, and his brother-in-law, Edward Dewey.

Family and friends may visit on Wednesday, February 2 (TODAY) from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the John J. Ferry Funeral & Sons Funeral Home, 88 East Main Street, Meriden, 06450, A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday, February 3 at 10:30 a.m. at Our Lady Queen of Angels Parish, Holy Angels Campus, 585 Main Street, South Meriden. Burial, with military honors, will be held in the Sacred Heart Cemetery mausoleum following Mass. Due to the current pandemic, masks and social distancing requirements will be enforced.

We would like to especially thank Southington Care Center for the exceptional care, compassion, and caring for John during this time. In lieu of flowers, donations in his name may be made to The Marine Corps League https://www.mclnational.org/ or The Boys and Girls Club of Meriden, CT https://www.bgcmeriden.org/donate/. For online condolences please visit jferryfh.com.