John Pelli

On March 15 another member of The Greatest Generation was lost when John Pelli, 92, of Cranston went to meet his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. John was born March 5, 1923 to Alessandro and Olivia Pelli, lived all his life in Cranston, graduating in the December 1941 class of Cranston High School (Salutatorian and member National Honor Society) then enlisting in the US Navy November 18, 1942 where he trained as a radioman. He spent the initial 3 days of the D-Day invasion off the Normandy beach head in an LCI converted into a communications center transferring messages from Omaha beach back to the fleet, later he was transferred to the coast of Ireland for the remainder of the War. John returned to Cranston after being discharged and married his high school sweetheart, Anna T. Marriett July 4, 1946. They enjoyed a marriage lasting nearly 62 years before her passing on April 14, 2008. Upon discharge from the Navy John became a Teamster delivering groceries throughout Southern New England for haulers ( TC Di Piro Trucking) supplying the wide spread A & P food store chain, later in his career he delivered general freight for Lombard Brothers where he served many years as shop steward and finally with New Penn retiring in 1985. His time with the teamsters was interrupted in January 1951 for 11 months when he was recalled into the Navy during the Korean conflict serving aboard the USS Naifeh DE # 352. John was a charter member of the John Ruggiero Post of the American Legion.

Upon retiring from the teamsters John found a new calling serving the hungry through his volunteer work at the St Vincent de Paul Food Ministry of Cranston, where he received recognition in 1996 as one of Cranston's "Volunteer's of the Year". He continued this service until his very recent illness. A humble and contrite person John worked many long hours to provide for his family. John and Anna raised four children who survive them, daughter Donna M. and husband Alan Palombo of West Warwick, and sons, John A. and wife Marcia of Westfield, Massachusetts, Mark A. of West Greenwich, and Michael A. of Cranston, as well as 3 grandchildren, Nathan Schwaery and Christopher J. Pelli E4, Specialist of Warwick and Jennifer Pelli Packard, MD and her husband Jonathan of Bedford New Hampshire and 2 great-grandsons, Tobias Mitchell Packard and Samuel Vickery Packard. Also surviving are his sister Melina Petrucci of Cranston and brothers Frank of Montana and Roger of Saunderstown. He was predeceased by his brother Anthony and granddaughter Megan Elizabeth Pelli.

Throughout his lifetime John enjoyed the warmth and friendship shared with the extended D'Arezzo, Massotti, Manzi , Di Piro, Sinapi, and Izzi families and especially those summer week end excursions to Weekapaug, Scarborough, and Beach Pond.

His funeral will be held on Friday, March 20th, from the NARDOLILLO FUNERAL HOME & Crematory, 1278 Park Avenue, Cranston at 9:00 a.m., followed by a Mass of Christian Burial in St. Mary's Church, Cranston Street, Cranston at 10:00 a.m. Burial, with Military Honors, will be held in St. Ann Cemetery, Cranston. VISITING HOURS: Thursday, March 19th from 5 to 8 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: St Vincent de Paul Food Center, 181 Princess Avenue, Cranston, RI 02920.

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