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Joseph Mazzella Obituary
Joseph was born in the Bronx, N.Y., on June 5, 1922, the son of Vincent and Rose (Romano) Mazzella. He grew up on North Road and attended Poquonnock Bridge School and Fitch High School. Joseph was married to Beryl "Dot" Griffiths, on April 25, 1964, in Gales Ferry. Beryl passed away on Dec. 3, 2000, missing his passing date by one day.
Joseph served in the U.S. Army during World War II as a PFC/specialist and captured Rome on his birthday in 1944 under Gen. Mark W. Clark. He served in the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater of Ops with Company K, 339th Infantry Regiment, 85th Infantry Division as a light truck driver and frontline sharpshooter in Rome-Arno, N. Apennines and the Po Valley. He was awarded the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater Campaign Ribbon, Combat Infantryman Badge, Purple Heart Medal, Bronze Star Medal, Good Conduct Medal and the WWII Victory Medal.
He was a lieutenant with Groton Town Auxiliary Police and was elected president of the Groton Auxiliary Police Assoc. on Jan.15, 1956. He was appointed supernumerary for Groton City Police, July 16, 1958 and retired with the Ledyard Police (1965-1977). He was famously known as the traffic cop for the five corners at Mitchell Street in Groton.
Prior to the war, he worked as a supervisor at George C. Moore Textiles, Westerly, then Sheffield Tubing, New London, where he had two deferments for the war while making morphine kits for soldiers. After the war, he worked for Arwood Corp. in Groton as wax room supervisor and retired in 1984 after 33 yrs. He was a member of the VFW, New London and Mystic and the Groton Lodge of Elks #2163.
He resided with and was lovingly cared for by his daughter, Sherry Wheeler and grandchildren, Justine and Owen Wheeler with heartfelt thanks to Hospice and Visiting Angels.
He is survived by a son, Joseph V. Mazzella Jr. (Joan) of Westerly; stepson, Richard Lise of Ledyard; stepdaughter, Lorraine Lober (Herbert) of Uncasville; brother, Philip Mazzella (Jean) of Mumford Cove; sister-in-law, Frances Mazzella of Preston; five more grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Visiting hours will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. Friday, with the Ledyard Police Honor Guard, at the Byles-Groton Memorial Home, 310 Thames St., Groton. Private burial with military honors will be in St. Mary Cemetery, New London.
Donations in his memory may be directed to the Alzheimer's Association, https://www.alz.org.
Please visit www.byles.com to sign the guest book or to share a memory.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Joseph Mazzella
Sponsored by Byles-Groton Memorial Home - Groton.
3 Entries
Bill Reddy
December 11, 2021
To Joe’s family, my deep condolences, so sorry to read this. I remember Joe well. He was well respected in the neighborhood. I always looked up to him. He was well groomed, dressed real sharp and was great person to talk to. I delivered the news paper to his home on Cranston Drive in Hyrock. I do remember his pipe and that tobacco smell. He was truly a Mitchell Street 5 conners icon with his uniform, white gloves, hat and whistle directing all that insane EB traffic. After H.S. 1969 my first full time job was at Arwood and he was my supervisor, he still had his pipe and he loved his button down sweaters. I’ll never forget you or our old neighborhood. I can still hear your voice. RIP Joe
December 10, 2017
Dear Sherry, Justine, and Owen...the world has lost a brave and honorable man...it was a privilege having Joe for a neighbor for several years...he was always ready to help e.g. if one got locked out....he hosted us many times at the pool...always gracious and interesting, and modest, he could tell a story like no other! and he had A WONDERFUL SENSE OF HUMOR..rest in peace with your wife, Joe..you have fought the good fight. Jane and Ed Leger
Jennifer Bernardo
December 8, 2017
Sherry, My deep sympathy to you and your family during this difficult time.
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