Joseph Bellavia

Joseph C. Bellavia, 92, of Upper Marlboro, Maryland formerly of Wakefield, died peacefully in his sleep at his home on Friday night, October 28.

Born in Reisi, Sicily on May 24, 1919, Joseph was the son of the late Francesco and Crocefissa (Garufo) Bellavia before coming to this country in 1922.

Joseph married Yolanda Ricciotti in June 1942 and entered the United States Navy that same year. Seeing action at the Battle of Okinawa, he served until the end of the war attaining the rank of Fireman 1st Class. Joseph used the G.I. Bill to get an education attending both Northeastern and M.I.T. He went to work at the Charlestown Naval Yard as a Naval Architectural Engineer. In, 1966, he was transferred to Main Navy, Washington, D.C. Joseph retired from the Department of Defense in 1972 with over 33 years of service. Joseph continued his career by joining Rosenblatt, an international engineering firm. He became one of their chief trouble shooters and traveled all over the world.

Joseph was a member of St. Joseph Church in Wakefield and later the Holy Rosary Roman Catholic Church in Upper Marlboro, MD serving as an usher in both parishes. He loved to sit at his organ and write songs, especially about his beloved Yolanda.

Joseph was the husband of the late Yolanda "Yolie" (Ricciotti) Bellavia. He is survived by his daughter Annmarie Lannin of Upper Marlboro, MD; his son Joseph F. Bellavia and his fiancée Susan Sheppard of Wakefield, his brother Carmello (Cal) Bellavia and his wife Rose of Malden; his grandchildren; Maria Ladrido and her husband Larry of Bushwood, MD; Lawrence Lannin of Cumberland, MD; Christopher Bellavia and his wife Amanda of Portland, TN; Jonathan Bellavia and his wife Christine of White House, TN; daughter-in-law Christine Bellavia of Clarksville, TN. He is also survived by his great-grandchildren; CJ Bellavia, Brandon Bellavia, Gino Bellavia, Brooklyn Jo Bellavia all of Portland, TN; Joseph Stoll-Bellavia of White House, TN, as well as many beloved nieces and nephews. Joseph was predeceased by his sister Crocefissa (Fanny) Ferrara and her husband Mario of Burlington; his son-in-law Larry Lannin of Upper Marlboro, MD and his grandson SSG Joseph P. Bellavia of Wakefield.

His funeral will be held from the McDonald Funeral Home, 19 Yale Ave., Wakefield on Wednesday at 9 a.m. followed by a funeral mass in St. Joseph Church, 173 Albion St., Wakefield at 10 o'clock. Visitation for relatives and friends will be held at the funeral home on Tuesday from 4 to 8 p.m. Interment will be at Forest Glade Cemetery in Wakefield.

In lieu of flowers, it was Joseph's hope that a donation would be made to the Citizens' Scholarship Foundation of Wakefield, Inc., in the name of the SSG Joseph P. Bellavia Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 321, Wakefield, MA 01880.

Read Joseph Bellavia's Obituary and Guestbook on www.mcdonaldfs.com.

Visitation

McDonald Funeral Home
19 Yale Ave.
Wakefield , MA US 01880
Tuesday, November 8, 2011, 4:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Service

St. Joseph Church
173 Albion Street
Wakefield , MA US 01880
Wednesday, November 9, 2011, 10:00 AM

Cemetery

Forest Glade Cemetery
Lowell Street
Wakefield , MA US 01880
Wednesday, November 9, 2011, 10:00 AM