Anthony G. Hap"" Miele

Anthony G. Miele, 83, of Wethersfield, affectionately known by family and friends as ""Hap"" and ""Andy"", passed away peacefully at home on Monday (March 7, 2011). He was the beloved husband of 57 years to the late Josephine (Giarratana) Miele. He was born on October 1, 1927 in Hartford to the late Rosa (Forte) and Gennaro Miele. He graduated from Bulkeley High School in Hartford, Class of 1945 and was a graduate of the Morse School of Business. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He was employed full-time by both the Hartford Electric Light Company (Northeast Utilities) for 35 years and the United States Post Office for 37 years. He was a member of VFW Post 2138, a charter member of the Sportsman's Club of Greater Hartford, and a member of the Association of Retired Employees of Northeast Utilities. His greatest joy for both he and his late wife Josephine, was spending time with their family. True to his nickname ""Hap"" (Short for Happy), he always had a smile on his face and enjoyed making people laugh. His hobbies included thoroughbred racing and rooting for, and criticizing the Red Sox. He is survived by his eight children: Elaine Matthews of Raleigh, NC; Joanne Callahan and her husband Timothy of Portland; Anthony Miele Jr. and his wife Charleen of Newington; Susan Miele and her husband Ronald Waid of Wethersfield; Jacqueline Tarascio and her husband John of Chapel Hill, NC, Stephen Miele and his wife Patricia of Kensington; David Miele of Rocky Hill; and Sharon Miele of Clearwater, FL. He also leaves his beloved grandchildren Michael, Daniel and his fiancée Kimberly Barker, Brendan and his fiancée Jennifer Reeder, and Ryan Matthews; Timothy J. Callahan, Anthony III and Emily Miele, Ashley Waid, Vincenzo, Dominic, Lorenzo and Gianna Nicole Miele; Carlie and Lucy Miele, step-grandchildren: Maureen and Meaghan Callahan; and many special nieces and nephews and their families. He is survived by his brothers-in-law, Nino Giarratana of Pinellas, FL, Sarino Giarratana and his wife Pearl of Wethersfield and Philip Cohun of West Hartford; his sisters-in-law, Gloria Irena and her husband Joseph of St. Petersburg, FL and Margherita Masters and her husband Chuck of St. Peterburg, FL. He was predeceased by his brother, Thomas A. Miele Sr. and his wife Jennie; sisters, Anna and Jennie Miele; his sisters and brothers-in-law, Nella and her husband Michael D'Onofrio, Elene Cohun, Elsie Boucher and her husband Roland Boucher and Michael Atwood. He enjoyed spending time with his OTB buddies and friends of the breakfast club as well as his lifelong friends, Tony and Virginia Pizzoferrato. A Mass of Christian burial will be held on Saturday, March 12 at 10 a.m. at Corpus Christi Church, 601 Silas Deane Highway, Wethersfield. Everyone is asked to go directly to the church. Burial will follow at Cedar Hill Cemetery, Hartford. There are no calling hours. Donations in Anthony's memory may be made to the American Heart Association -CT Chapter, 5 Brookside Dr., P.O. Box 5022, Wallingford, CT 06492 or the National Kidney Foundation of CT, 2139 Silas Deane Hwy., Suite 208, Rocky Hill, CT 06067. For online expressions of sympathy to the family, please visit www.desopo.com.