Obituaries

Obituary: John J. Zabbara Dies at 87

The following obituary was provided by Naugatuck Valley Memorial Funeral Homes.

WATERBURY – Mr. John J. Zabbara, 87, of Waterbury passed away surrounded by his loving family on Tuesday, November 1, 2011 at Village Green Health Center. He was the widower of Anna (Lena) Zabbara.

Mr. Zabbara was born in Waterbury on Jan. 12, 1924, a son of the late Emmanuel and Liboria (Tarnambe) Zabbara and resided there his entire life. He was a decorated World War II Army veteran, serving with Battery B 733, attaining the rank of Corporal and a Purple Heart recipient. He retired from the footwear division of Uniroyal, Inc. and has also worked at Centerbank and Stop & Shop. He was a member of the Knight of Columbus, Sheriden Council, Bishop O’Reilly Assembly, where he served as Past Navigator; and was also a member of the VFW Oakville Post #7330, Disabled American Veterans, Italian Sicilian Club of Waterbury, AARP Chapter 2127, and past president of the East Gate Community Club. He was a communicant of Our Lady of Lourdes Church.

He leaves three sons, John E. Zabbara and his wife Alice of Waterbury, Robert J. Zabbara and his wife Sharon of Wolcott, Emanuel P. Zabbara and his wife Susan of Wolcott; four daughters, Judi Taylor and her husband Ned of Waterbury, Bonnie Boutote of Waterbury, Debbie Sciortino and her husband Bob of Greensboro, N.C., Anne Zabbara of Waterbury; his sister, Sarah Bernaitis of Waterbury; 14 grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.  He was predeceased by his brother, Vito Zabbarro; sisters, Catherine Palumbo and Josephine Giamario; and his granddaughter, Lisa Ann Boutote.

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The family would like to thank the Village Green Health Center and VITAS Hospice Care for the outstanding care given to John.

His funeral will be held on Saturday, November 5 at 9 a.m. from the Naugatuck Valley Memorial/Fitzgerald Zembruski Funeral Home, 240 North Main Street, Naugatuck to Our Lady of Lourdes Church for a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m.  Burial with full military honors will follow in Calvary Cemetery, East Main Street, Waterbury. Calling hours will be held at the funeral home on Friday evening from 5-8 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Our Lady of Lourdes Church, 309 South Main Street, Waterbury, CT 06706 or to VITAS Hospice Care, 1579 Straits Tpke., Suite C,  Middlebury, CT 06762-1835. To send an on-line condolence, please visit www.naugatuckvalleymemorial.com.

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