Salvatore "John" Boccia of Danbury, CT, died peacefully at the Regional Hospice and Palliative Care Center on June 14, 2018 at the age of 85 after a long illness. He was the devoted husband of Carmela Boccia.
Salvatore was born in Poggio Marino, Italy, to Natale and Rose (Salvati) Boccia, and grew up in Tripoli, Libya. He brought his young family to Connecticut in 1960, living first in Norwalk and then settling in Danbury, where he raised his family.
He was a cobbler by trade before immigrating to America, and a self-taught and excellent craftsman and handyman. He worked many years for Danbury Pharmacal as maintenance director. He faithfully attended Mass and served as an usher at St. Joseph Parish. He enjoyed gardening and raising his prized European finches. He volunteered at the YMCA teaching the seniors' aquatics class for 20 years.
He is survived by his wife, Carmela; his daughters Antonietta Brown and her husband, Mark of Danbury, Sr Linda Salvatore Boccia, FSP, of Boston, Maria McLennan and her husband Doug of Newtown, and John Boccia of Danbury; his grandchildren Mark, Mindy, and Marisa, and great-granddaughter Adaline Rose; and his sister, Maria Cappuccia of Norwalk.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 AM on Tuesday, June 19, 2018 at St. Joseph Church, Danbury, with Rev. David W. Franklin officiating. Interment will follow at St. Peter's Cemetery.
Friends will be received 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM on Monday, June 17, Green Funeral Home, 57 Main Street, Danbury, CT.
In lieu of flowers, a contribution in Salvatore's memory may be made to Regional Hospice and Palliative Care Center, 30 Mile Stone Road, Danbury, CT 06810.