Joseph R. Zito

Joseph Rudolph “Joey” Zito, 100, of White, GA, formerly of Hartford and West Hartford, loving husband to the late Adele Iva (LaVoie) Zito, peacefully passed away Sunday, July 2, 2023 at home in White, GA. Joey was born May 18, 1923 and raised in Hartford, one of nine children to the late Francisco “Frank” and Donata Maria (Ierardi) Zito. He attended Hartford schools, graduating from Weaver High School. Joey honorably served our country in the United States Army during World War II from April 1944 to April 1946 when he was honorably discharged. Upon his return from the military, he went to work at Pratt & Whitney Small Tool & Die, West Hartford as a Quality Control Inspector, during the late 50’s. Joey moved the family to Florida where he continued working for Pratt & Whitney in the Engine Division until its closing in ’68. At this time, the family moved to South Carolina, where he took a job with Lycoming Engine until ’74. Joey took a position with the Neptune Water Co. of NY. For a year, he would fly to NY on Monday and return to his family on Friday. He accepted a position at Cummins Engines in South Carolina retiring in 1985.

Joey loved to dance. He was a Gold Level Ballroom Dance Instructor for Arthur Murray, where he worked on various cruise ships. His greatest joy in life was his family and the time spent together.

Joey will be deeply missed and forever remembered in the hearts of his surviving family. A son and daughter in law, Jeffrey Raymond and Ingrid Marijke (Craeninckx) Zito of White, GA; a grand-son, Joseph Rudolph Zito, with his wife, Melissa (Smith) Zito, children, Lily and Bodey Zito, and Taylor Piazza all in Scotch Plains, NJ; a grand-daughter, Allison Marie (Zito) Basham, with her husband, Kevin Basham, and their children, Caleb and Miranda Basham, all in Cumming, GA. In addition to his sole surviving brother, Daniel Zito in Wethersfield, CT, Joey was pre-deceased by a son, Joseph Rudolph Zito, Jr.,Joey’s wife, parents, and siblings Dominic Zito, Ann (Zito) Lepore, Peter Zito, Mildred (Zito) Yacobucci, Rose (Zito) Urgo, Mary (Zito) Collins, John Zito and Irene (Zito) Conte,

Friends and relatives may pay their respects to the Zito family, Thursday, July 27 from 4-6pm at the D’Esopo Funeral Chapel, 277 Folly Brook Blvd, Wethersfield. Interment with full military honors will occur at 1PM, Friday, July 28 at Mount Saint Benedict Cemetery, 1 Cottage Grove RD, Bloomfield, CT 06002. (in lieu of flowers, please make donations to a military veterans organization of your choice. To extend online expressions of sympathy, please visit www.desopofuneralchapel.com.