Information provided by Lacerenza Funeral Home
Joseph Lawrence D’Andrea, formerly of Perna Lane Riverside, passed away Monday, November 21 at Spring Meadows in Trumbull, one month short of his 94th birthday.
Joe was born in 1922 to the late MaryPerna D’Andrea and Lorenzo D’Andrea of Riverside. Fondly known as “Uncle Joe” by friends and family alike, he spent most of his life in Riverside until moving to Trumbull in 2008 to live with his daughter and son-in-law Laurie and Randall Church.
Joe graduated from Greenwich High School in 1941 then worked at Electrolux until enlisting with the United States Army where he served as a Surgical Technician in Guadalcanal and Saipan during World War II, for which he received the Good Conduct Medal, Victory Medal and Asiatic Pacific Theater Campaign Ribbon.
In 1949, he married Grace Mancusi of Stamford, and together they raised their family in Riverside. They owned and operated Ideal Custom Tailors and Dry Cleaning in Cos Cob for many years. Later, Joe worked as a building superintendent for several corporate offices in Greenwich and Stamford until his retirement.
Joe loved to fish, play bocce, and was a life long expert gardener – renowned for his tomatoes! Mostly he loved his large Italian American family and any time spent with them.
Joe was predeceased by his beloved wife Grace, eight siblings: William Andrea, Louise Ponziani, Catherine Cavaliere, Emma Allegrini, Charles D’Andrea, Louis D’Andrea, Carmela D’Andrea, and Angelina Sarni. He is survived by his children son Joseph and his wife Maureen, daughter Birdie, daughter Laurie and her husband Randall, grandson Joe his wife Jennifer and great granddaughter Stella Grace, grandson Thomas, his sister Nora DeMilia, and many nieces and nephews.
Joe’s last wish was that American Military Personnel serving overseas in areas of conflict and war return safely home.
The family would like to thank the staff at Spring Meadows Trumbull for making dad’s last home a warm caring environment, and Sara Fry from Masonicare Hospice for being our angel when we needed one.
Family and friends may call at the Lacerenza Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 8 Schuyler Avenue, Stamford, CT on Sunday, November 27, 2016 from 2:00-6:00PM. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday, November 28, 2016 at 10:30AM at St. Catherine of Siena Church, 6 Riverside Avenue, Riverside. Interment will follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Greenwich.
In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to Saint Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St Jude Place Memphis, TN 38105.
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