William Anthony Zipadelli, 80, of Niantic, CT formerly of Berlin, CT returned home to our Lord Monday, October 8, 2018, after a long illness. Bill was born in New Britain, CT and was the son of the late Louis and Mary Ann (Zavalick) Zipadelli. He was the husband of Joanne (Wilcox) Zipadelli, lived an active and full life in the Christian ministry locally volunteering his time visiting and counseling friends and strangers at group homes, prisons and shelters. Bill was a member of the Niantic Baptist Church. An avid boater, he spent many summers on the Connecticut River and Long Island Sound enjoying nature and the great outdoors. Bill was a member of the Pattaconk Yacht Club in Chester, CT for many years where he and Joanne were married and where his son Bill and grandson Nick joined him in their love of boating. He joined the U.S. Marines (1955-1958) and served in Washington, D.C. in the 8th & I and was selected to join the Marine Silent Drill Corps. Bill also served as Honor Guard at Camp David during President Eisenhower’s term. Bill was fortunate to reconnect with his Marine buddies when he and Joanne attended reunions in Washington, D.C. He was a member of the Connecticut Hospital Engineers Society. Bill retired from the State of Connecticut after nearly twenty-five years of employment. He worked for the UCONN Health Center, Connecticut State Police and in 1997 retired from the Department of Children and Families as Plant Engineer at Riverview Hospital for Children in Middletown, CT. After retirement Bill worked part-time for the Town of Old Lyme as a Police Boat Operator.
Besides his wife, Bill is survived by; his son William Louis and wife Sherie, of Kensington, CT his daughter Shelly and husband Christopher Persil of Fairfax, VA, stepsons James and wife Tracy Wilcox, Joseph, William, and Mark Miller, stepdaughters Catherine Wilcox Gentile and husband Thomas, Mary Miller and Maureen Miller Izzo; 4grandchildren Nicholas and Alyssa Zipadelli, Emily and Jacqueline Persil; step grandchildren Sarah, John and wife Laura Ouellette, Thomas and Alexa Izzo, Bridget Fichera, Nina, Joseph, Michael, John, Logan and Carly Miller. Bill also leaves his sisters; Nancy and husband, Ronald, Kuhnly, Susan and husband, Daniel, Paulauskas, and Anita LaBelle and fiancé, Randall Roy, and many nieces, nephews and friends. He was loved by all. Bill was predeceased by his spouses Shirley (Spaulding) Zipadelli and Lorraine (Miller) Zipadelli and stepsons John and James Miller.
Funeral rites for Mr. Zipadelli will be held Monday, October 15, 2018 at 11 a.m. from the Paul A. Shaker Funeral Home, 764 Farmington Ave., New Britain, CT. Burial with full military honors rendered by the United States Marine Corps will be in the State Veterans Cemetery, 317 Bow Lane, Middletown, CT. The American flag will be presented to Bill’s wife, Joanne. Relatives and friends may call at the Paul A. Shaker Funeral Home, Sunday from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Directions to funeral home – I-84 east or west – exit 37 (Fienemann Rd) right off exit – one mile down on right. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made in Bill’s name to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, P.O. Box 50, Memphis, TN 38101-9929 or Doctors Without Borders/MFS, P.O. Box 5022, Hagerstown MD 21741-5022. To extend condolences to the Zipadelli family or to share a memory of Bill, please visit SHAKERFUNERALHOME.COM
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