Joseph Edward Vella, a native and lifelong resident of Mobile, died July 3, 2017, while traveling in Vienna, Austria, after a short illness. Born on August 25, 1943, he was preceded in death by his parents, Francis Joseph and Edna Graham Vella; his spouse, Mary Caroline Brown Vella; his brother, John Francis Vella; and his niece Lynn Marie Vella. A graduate of St Mary's Catholic School, McGill Institute, and Auburn University, he taught at McGill Institute, later McGill-Toolen Catholic High School for over forty years. He was an member and former president of the Mobile Theater Guild; a former board member of Mobile Opera and dedicated member of the Opera chorus; and member and former president of one of Mobile's oldest mystic societies. He is survived by his sister, Beverly Vella (Dudley) Griffith, Ft Worth, TX; sister-in-law, Shirley Arata Vella, Mobile, AL; nephews, Ross P (Brenda) Griffith, Ft Worth, TX; David D (Lisa) Griffith, Ft Worth, TX; John F Vella, Jr, West Memphis, AR; Charles C "Chris" Vella, Houston, TX; David R (Anne) Vella, Mobile, AL; nieces, Gwen Griffith (Michael) Windus, Ft Worth, TX; Vickie Vella (Johnny) Murray, Mobile, AL; Ann Vella (Chip) Fonde, Mobile, AL; cousins, J Michael Druhan, Mobile, AL; Graham, Garett and Gregory Graham, Atlanta, GA; Rosemary and Frank Graham, Jacksonville, FL; Mary Catherine Vella (Lee) Leavitt, Mobile, AL; Delores Vella Courtney, Mobile, AL; Rose Vella Ladner, Mobile, AL, John Vella III and George A Vella, Mobile, AL; and Ceil Vella (Butch) Barnes, Altoona, AL; and a host of other relatives and friends. The Rosary will be recited at St Mary's Catholic Church at 6 p.m., July 14, 2017. Visitation will be from 9 to 11 a.m., July 15, 2017, at St Mary's Catholic Church, Mobile, AL. Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 11 a.m., with Rev. Msgr. G. Warren Wall, celebrant. Lectors will be J Michael Druhan III and Henry J O'Connor, Jr. Honorary Pallbearers will be J. Michael Druhan, C. Dudley Griffith, and Carlos M Garcia. Active Pallbearers will be Philip W Everett, David D Griffith, Ross P Griffith, Henry J O'Connor, Jr, Charles C "Chris" Vella, David R Vella, John F Vella, Jr, and Steven D Wooley. Interment will be in the Catholic Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to a favorite charity, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, St. Mary's Home, the McGill-Toolen Capital Fund, or the St Mary Parish Capital Fund. Funeral arrangements by Radney Funeral Home. Arrangements under the direction of Radney Funeral Home-Mobile, Mobile, AL.
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