Pasquale John Letizia, known as John, passed away on April 29, 2024 at 93 years old. Raised in the Bronx, NY, he lived a long, adventurous life with many chapters. John married his beloved wife, Marie (Ciriello) Letizia, on October 11, 1959. They moved to Pelham in 1967 where they raised three children and were later blessed with six grandchildren. John was a resident of Pelham and a parishioner of St. Catharine’s Church for 57 years. He held a wide variety of jobs over the course of his career, ranging from making Chevrolets during an impromptu trip out west in the 1950s to doing accounting work at the Westchester County Health Department upon his retirement.
John lived his long life in pursuit of new experiences. Whether it was joining the army on a whim, ice skating during his lunch breaks, or trying to convince his grandchildren to ride a hot air balloon on their annual trips to Lake George, his resilience and tenacity for life was palpable. He was a lifelong Yankees fan and an expert at crossword puzzles. He loved playing poker and mixing seasonal drinks to the sounds of Frank Sinatra playing in the background.
John’s grandchildren were his pride and joy, as evidenced by the ever-expanding collection of photos he displayed throughout his house. He never missed an event in their lives and looked forward to weekly Sunday dinners. After the immense loss of his wife, Marie, in 2021, he was reinvigorated by becoming a great grandfather to his great granddaughters, Lia and Isabella – a cherished final chapter in his life full of memories. Even in the final months of his life, he made weekly trips to Kohl’s in search of toys and gifts.
John was predeceased by his parents and his brother, Peter Letizia. He was also predeceased by his wife, Marie, to whom he was married for over 60 years. He died on what would have been her 93rd birthday – almost certainly in hopes of reuniting to celebrate.
He is survived by his children: Marie and her husband Bill Ivers, John Jr., Robert and his wife Silvana; his beloved grandchildren: Robert and his wife Amanda, Billy, Danielle and her husband Joe Piscal, Elena, Andrew, Giovanni; his beloved great grandchildren, Lia and Isabella; his sister-in-law, Josephine Letizia; his brother-in-law, Agostino Ciriello and his wife Michelina; and his many nieces and nephews.
A celebration of John’s life will take place at the Pelham Funeral Home located at 64 Lincoln Ave. in Pelham, NY on Monday, May 6th from 4-8 PM. A Mass of Christian Burial will take place at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church located at 559 Pelham Manor Rd. in Pelham, NY on Tuesday, May 7th at 10 AM. Interment will follow at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Valhalla, NY. For more information or to leave a condolence please visit www.pelhamfuneral.com.
Editor’s note: This obituary was provided by the Pelham Funeral Home.
