Victor Martinelli

He was born in Norwich on February 1, 1918, the son of Albert and Viola (Peccini) Martinelli of Massa Carrara Italy. On April 18th, 1942 Victor married the late Helen (Szruba) Martinelli who passed away on March 18, 2006. The two were married at St. Mary’s Church in Jewett City and were married for 63 loving years.

In October 1942 at the age of 24, Victor was drafted into the United States Army and proudly served his country during World War II as a medical technician. During his service, Victor was deployed on the front lines to Africa and Italy. On May 4th, 1944, Victor was severely wounded by shrapnel while he was attending to wounded soldiers on the battle field. After being hospitalized for several months, Victor again joined the fighting until November 1945 when he was honorably discharged from the Army, thus returning home to Norwich to his wife Helen. For his service, Victor was awarded the Purple Heart as well as a Medical Badge in recognition for his service on the war front in Italy. This past April, his services were highlighted by the Norwich Bulletin as part of the newspaper’s series on local veterans.

Upon returning home from the war, Victor returned to his job at Parke-Davis in Sprague and later went on to work for the United States Post Office in Norwich where he worked in the maintenance division. After 27 loyal years, Victor retired in 1984.

Victor is survived by his two children and their spouses, Shirley and Thomas O'Neil of Waterford and Ronald and Linda Martinelli of Guilderland, N.Y. as well as five grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. Victor is also survived by a sister, Theresa (Martinelli) Delesio of N.J, a brother Alfred Martinelli of Montville and was predeceased by a brother William Martinelli formerly of Mystic.

Visitation will be on Friday from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the Labenski Funeral Home, 107 Boswell Ave., Norwich, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 1:00 p.m. Sts. Peter and Paul Church. Interment will follow in St. Joseph Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to either the Center for Hospice Care, 227 Dunham St., Norwich CT 06360, or to Sts. Peter and Paul Church, 181 Elizabeth St., Norwich CT 06360. Please visit www.labenskifuneralhome.com to leave an online condolence for the Martinelli family