Josephine R (Aletta) Vonella Obituary
It is with a very heavy heart to announce that Josephine R. Vonella passed away on Friday, May 3, 2024, with her daughter, Angela, by her side, after a long and courageous battle with a terminal illness. Josephine was born on March 19, 1935, and was the daughter of the late Nicola and Rose (Pirruccio) Aletta, of Catania and Siracusa, Sicily. Josephine grew up in Middletown, CT. In 1953, she met the love of her life, Salvatore, at Soundview Beach in Old Lyme, while enjoying an Italian ice at Vecchitto's. A few months later, they were engaged, which followed with 54 years of marriage that afforded both of them the opportunity of a very meaningful, blessed, and successful life together, before Salvatore's passing in 2008. Josephine then moved to Bristol, CT with Salvatore and attended Briarwood College where she achieved a Certificate in Early Childhood Education. In her free time, Josephine proudly served as a Girl Scout Leader, and "Room Mother" at Stafford Elementary School for many years. Some of her most proud and cherished memories were also caring for her four grandchildren full time, as well as hosting beautifully elaborate family holidays and dinners, of which there was always plenty of extra food and drink for neighbors or friends to stop by, take a seat at the table, and break bread. Josephine is surely overjoyed to now be reunited with her beloved husband Salvatore, as she gets ready to prepare a feast of authentic Italian cuisine for everyone she has missed in her new "Heavenly" kitchen. Josephine was always a very loyal and devoted Daughter, Sister, Wife, Mother, and Grandmother. When she wasn't cooking, spending time with children, or serving as one of the World's most proficient Domestic Engineers, she could be found helping out in the family business that her husband, Salvatore, established in 1954, "Salvon Custom Tailor", doing seamstress work in the tailor shop, or quality control on the tuxedo side of the business, "Salvon Formalwear", that began in the 1970's, as a partnership with their son, Philip. Josephine will always be remembered for her heart of gold, fabulous Italian cooking and baking, wonderful sense of humor, grit, honesty, memorable laugh, generosity, and proving why a dozen of her cannoli or pan of her eggplant parmigiana had more negotiating or bartering power than cash does any day of the week. Once in a while you could even delight in seeing her entertain at a family picnic demonstrating some of her comedy impressions, or how she can still do a cartwheel or two, maybe even three, just as well as she did back when she was a kid. There was never a dull moment with Josephine! She had a vivacious presence, love for life, nature, and talent for gardening with beautiful roses, vegetables, and landscapes in her yard. Josephine also found so much joy and peace in a surprise visit by the neighborhood deer, wild rabbits, and most of all, her beloved birds: Cardinals and Blue Jays. Josephine also enjoyed traveling, to collect antiques, read, watch movies, and listening to Andre Rieu or Luciano Pavarotti. She had a very dear and longtime best friend, Nina Mallardi, whom she has missed ever since her passing. If there were ever two people who represented the truest example of what a genuine, caring, and sweet friendship is, it would have been Josephine and Nina. If only we all could be so lucky to find a friendship like theirs in life! Josephine was predeceased by her husband, Salvatore, parents, Nicola and Rose Aletta, sisters Jennie Faraci, Esther Kotch, brothers Emanuel Aletta, Frank Aletta, and son Philip S. Vonella. Josephine is survived by her daughters Angela G. Vonella of Bristol, CT, Rose (Vonella) and Kevin Mihaly of Greenville, SC, Grandchildren; Kristi Wright, Josie Vonella, Ryan Mihaly, Sean Mihaly, Jayden Parent, and Jackson Parent, in addition to her sister, Natalie Cianci. Angela, Josephine's daughter and caregiver, would like to thank Dr. and Mrs. Oliver Diaz for being such caring medical professionals, as well as ongoing reliable sources of strength, advice, comfort, and support.
Memorial donations may be sent in Josephine's honor to the National Audubon Society, audubon.org, No Kid Hungry, nokidhungry.org, or Dementia Society of America, dementiasociety.org
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, May 18, 2024 at 10:00 AM from the Funk Funeral Home, 35 Bellevue Avenue, Bristol to St. Gregory the Great Church, 235 Maltby St. Bristol, for a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 AM. Burial will follow in St. Joseph Cemetery. Calling hours for Josephine will be from 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM at the Funk Funeral Home prior to the Mass.
