John Mele

John Mele, age 97, of Avery Heights, Hartford, husband of the late Olga Alfaro Mele, died peacefully at his home on April 19, 2017. Born in Colchester, VT, son of the late Fiore and Anna Nardella Mele. He was predeceased by his sister, Mary Gianelli, brothers, Joseph Mele and Anthony Mele, and daughter-in-law, Judith McCourt Mele. John enlisted in the Army in 1938 at age 18 and volunteered for Fort Buchannan, Puerto Rico, where he met and married the love of his life, Olga. What was to be a loving marriage of 63 years, they settled in CT to raise a family. John was a willing partner to Olga in her extraordinary social and religious service to the Puerto Rican community in Hartford. He worked alongside his wife with the migrants starting in the 1950s. His connections with Atty. Kevin Kenny and his wife were instrumental in getting Maria Sanchez on the Board of Education, which was the start of giving the Puerto Rican community a political voice. He also helped in his capacity as a family relations officer, working tirelessly in his advocacy for Puerto Rican women and their children. John and Olga enjoyed multiple travels to Puerto Rico and Italy, always cementing both the Puerto Rican and Italian family roots that each had. Nothing was more pleasurable to John than the frequent poker games at Foxwoods Casino and the 5/10 cent poker games at Avery Heights with fellow residents. His wit and humor are engrained in all who would know him. He is survived by son, John and his wife Patricia Dempsey of West Hartford, daughter, Lydia of East Hartford, granddaughters, Lisa Galas and her husband Walter of Easton MA, Sarah Mele and her husband Carlos Haas of Montpelier VT, Laura Mele and her wife Tara Daly of Northampton, MA, and six great-grandchildren, Noah Witke Mele, Judith Witke Mele, Jack Galas, Chris Galas, Julianna Galas and Jasper Mele Sargent, sister-in-law, Ann Mele and nephew, David Mele, as well as family and friends in Puerto Rico. Among his close friends are Barbara and Geno Calderon and Maggie and Rocco Santangello, who provided love and support through the years. Special thanks must be given to his physician, Dr. Rolf Knoll, who provided remarkable care, especially in his final years. Heart-felt thanks to the Hartford Care Hospice staff, especially Andrea Barrington, RN; as well as Melissa Very, RN at Avery Noble 1 who gave loving and supportive care during the phases of his final journey home.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be con-celebrated by Auxiliary Bishop Peter Rosazza and Father Michael Galasso on Monday, April 24, at 10 a.m. at St Mary’s Church, 10 Maplewood Ave, East Hartford. Everyone is asked to please go directly to the church. Entombment with military honors will follow in St Mary’s Cemetery, East Hartford. Friends may call on Sunday, April 23, from 1-4 p.m. at the D’Esopo Funeral Chapel, 277 Folly Brook Blvd., Wethersfield. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St Mary’s Church, 10 Maplewood Ave., East Hartford, CT 06108. To share a memory of John with his family, please visit www.desopo.com.