John "Yogi" Francis Fiondella

John F. “Yogi” Fiondella, 86, of Southington, loving husband of Barbara (DeFelice) Fiondella for 63 years, passed away peacefully on Monday, October 16, 2023 at Hartford Hospital with his family beside him. John was born in New Britain, CT on April 1, 1937 and was the son of the late Joseph and Cecelia (Ferrucci) Fiondella. He was educated in Southington schools and graduated from Southington High School in 1955. That fall, he entered CCSU with teaching as his major and he earned his teaching degree and then graduated in 1959. He then received his Master’s Degree from the University of Hartford. John had an illustrious career in the Southington schools starting in 1960 where he began as a fourth-grade teacher at North Center School. He would go on to teach at Flanders, finishing his career as a principal at Thalberg and Derynoski Elementary Schools. John finished his career in 1996 after 37 years as an educator. John was a member of the Southington Elks Lodge #1669. During his retirement you could find John visiting the Elks Lodge in Westbrook, cruising around in his 1996 Trans-AM, cheering for the Yankees, the UCONN Women’s basketball team and also the Connecticut Sun basketball team. He loved to spend time with his family in Florida. John delighted himself by spending time with his family where he would spread his knowledge and wisdom with them. In addition to his wife Barbara, John is survived by his children, Lisa Colaninno and her husband Frank of Venice, FL, Joseph J. Fiondella of Charlotte, NC and Mark Fiondella and his partner Eileen Cochrane of Plainville. He was a doting grandfather to Jonathan Fiondella of Bristol, Frank Colaninno Jr. and his wife Brittany of Oakville, Melissa Fiondella of South Windsor and Mark Fiondella of Kensington. He was also a great-grampa to Elliana Grace Colaninno of Oakville and a brother to Grace Terry and her husband Bob of Plantsville. John was welcomed into Heaven by his brother Francis and by his daughter-in-law Wassana Fiondella. A Mass of Christian Burial for John will be held on Monday, October 23, 2023 at 11:00 AM at the Church of St. Dominic, 1050 Flanders Rd, Southington. Burial will follow in St. Thomas Cemetery. Calling hours will be held prior to the Mass from 9:00 AM to 10:30 AM at the DellaVecchia Funeral Home, 211 N. Main St. Southington. Contributions in John’s name may be made to the American Heart Association P.O. Box 417005 Boston, MA 02241 or to the American Kidney Foundation, 11921 Rockville Pike, Suite 300 Rockville, MD 20852.