John L. DiFederico

1938 - 2021

Waterford - John L. DiFederico, 82, Waterford, died peacefully Jan. 12, 2021, at Lawrence + Memorial Hospital after a brief illness. He was born March 30, 1938 in Southbridge, Mass. to John and Clara DiFederico. He married his loving wife, Mary Pauline DiFederico May 16, 1964, in St. Stephen, New Brunswick, Canada.

He attended Tufts University, class of 1959, and then McGill University School of Dentistry, class of 1964. After receiving his doctorate in dentistry, he served as an officer in the United States Navy as a corpsman (dentist) from 1964, and was honorably discharged in 1966. He then had a long and fulfilling career as a dentist at his private dental practice in New London, until his retirement in 2011. During his life, he was an active member of the New London and Waterford communities and developed many friendships throughout the area. He proudly served as a police commissioner for the Waterford Police Department from 1993 to 2013.

He is survived by his devoted wife of fifty-six years, Pauline and their three children, Cynthia and Herb Williams of Kodak, Tenn., Diana and Kevin McCurry of Winchester, Mass. and John and Denise DiFederico of Milford. He is also survived by seven grandchildren: Kyle and Ryan Williams, Hannah and Henry McCurry, Gina, Anthony and Dominic DiFederico; as well as his sister Shirley and Joseph Petitti of Concord, Mass. He is predeceased by his parents, John and Clara DiFederico; and his sister Veronica and Paul Harrington of Lee, Mass.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Lawrence + Memorial ICU staff or the Waterford Police Department PBA.

A memorial Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 21, from St. Joseph Church in New London. Interment to follow with military honors in East Neck Cemetery, Waterford. The Impellitteri-Malia Funeral Home, 84 Montauk Avenue, New London, has been entrusted with his care.