Joseph A. D'Elia

Joe was born May 18, 1930 in Hartford, CT, the son of late Joseph and Margaret (Barrett) D’Elia. He graduated from Weaver High School in 1949. Joe and Joyce married on October 13, 1951. Joe was with the United States Air Force and in December 1951 was deployed to Japan and Korea. In May 1953 Joe was honorably discharged as a staff sergeant.

Joe attended Hillyer College for technology. During his career he held several different jobs and in 1956 he joined IBM. Joe was a toast master on many occasions because of his stand-up ability and humor. He retired from IBM in 1991.

In addition to his wife of 70 years, Joe is survived by son Stephen D’Elia and wife Susan of Colchester; brothers Carmine (Bud) D’Elia and wife Filomena of Scottsdale, AZ; and Robert D’Elia and Karen Kazmen of Vallejo, CA. He also leaves four grandchildren, Kareemah, Hassanah, Hassan and Stephanie D’Elia; eight great-children and many beloved nieces and nephews. Besides his parents he was predeceased by his daughter Gina D’Elia and sisters Mary Joan and Constance D’Elia. He was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather and friend who will be sadly missed by all.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, February 27, 2021 at 10 a.m. at Christ the King Parish (Corpus Christi Church) 601 Silas Deane Highway, Wethersfield. Everyone is asked to please meet directly at the church. Masks and social distancing guidelines will be followed. Military Honors will take place at the church following the Mass. Burial will be at a later date. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to The D’Esopo Funeral Chapel, 277 Folly Brook Blvd., Wethersfield. The family would like to thank the staff at St. Francis Hospital for all of their care and compassion during this difficult time. In lieu of flowers, Joe’s favorite charity was the Wounded Warriors Project, P.O. Box 758516, Topeka, KS. 66675-8516. For online expressions of sympathy to the family, please visit www.desopofuneralchapel.com.