Joseph Phillip Stenza, 85, husband and best friend of Catherine (Francia) Stenza for 62 years, passed away Friday, May 26, after a short battle with cancer. Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., he lived in Ridgefield, Conn., until his retirement and then in Naples, Fla., for the next 25 years.

A 4th degree Knight of Columbus, he was a eucharistic minister at St Elizabeth Seton Church in Ridgefield and St William Catholic Church in Naples. In retirement, he served as a volunteer in the Coast Guard Auxiliary. He and his wife had recently moved to South Windsor, Conn. Fondly known as Granddad, he was a truly good person, always willing to lend a helping hand.

In addition to his wife, he leaves his daughters, Lisa Catanese and her husband Paul of Coventry, Conn., and Gina Pin and her husband Marc of Newtown, Conn.; his daughter-in-law, Ellen Stenza of Naples, Fla.; grandchildren Kristina (Chris), Michael, Andrew, Dan (Kelly), Catherine (Evan), Allison, and Joseph Aaron; and great-grandchildren Amelia, Benjamin, Maxwell, and Nathan. He was predeceased by his beloved son, Joseph Charles, whom he now joins in heaven.

A celebration of his life will be held at St Elizabeth Seton Church, Ridgefield, at 10 am on Saturday, June 3, with interment immediately following at Resurrection Cemetery, Newtown. In lieu of flowers, the family is suggesting donations to Visiting Nurse and Health Services of Connecticut Hospice, 8 Keynote Drive, Vernon, CT 06066, or the Alzheimer’s Association, www.alz.org.

The Newtown Bee June 2, 2023