Anthony Francis “Tony” Vodola, of Newtown, beloved husband of Wanda, died Monday, July 6, 2015, at Danbury Hospital after a short illness. He was 90 years old.
Born April 4, 1925, in Stamford, Connecticut, he was the son of the late Gerardo Vodola and Angela Masi Vodola. Tony graduated from Stamford State Trade School and proudly served in the United States Navy in World War II, as a Motor Machinist’s Mate, Third Class, on the LST 1015. He bravely served from 1943 until his honorable discharge in 1946. During his time in the Navy, he saw combat in the Battles of Pelilieu, the Philippines, and Okinawa, Japan. Tony worked for many years as an automobile mechanic in Stamford, New Milford and Ridgefield, retiring from Ace Tire in Ridgefield in 2000. Over the years, he also worked as a carpenter, plumber and electrician, and, during his retirement, as a repairman for Gilbertie’s Herb Gardens in Easton. A talented tradesman, he designed and built a home in Redding, where he and his wife Wanda lived for more than thirty years. Tony also built many stonewalls on the Redding property, and numerous pieces of furniture for family and friends. He enjoyed making homemade sausage, using the grinder from the family grocery store where he worked in his youth. He also loved spending time with his family, whether at a Sunday pasta dinner, or at many other extended family celebrations. Tony was a communicant of St. Rose of Lima Church in Newtown and previously sang in the choir at St. Mary Parish in Stamford, and served on the lay board at St. Patrick Parish in Redding. He will be greatly missed by all. He is survived by his beloved wife of 62 years, Wanda V. Z. Vodola, of Newtown; a daughter and son-in-law, Andrea and Kevin Hall, of Clovis, California; a son and daughter-in-law, Peter and Celeste Vodola, of Newtown; a sister, Lucy Prell, of Wilmington, North Carolina; and his grandchildren: Cody Hall, of Chico, California; Sara Hall, of Clovis, California; and Mary, Rebecca, Joanna, Angela and Veronica Vodola, of Newtown. He is predeceased by his sister Rose (Vodola) Festo and his brothers Vincent “Jimmy” and Angelo “Joe” Vodola. Calling hours are Wednesday, July 8, from 5 to 8 p.m., at the Honan Funeral Home, 58 Main Street, Newtown.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday, July 9, at 10:30 a.m. in St. Rose of Lima Church, Newtown. Interment will follow in St. Rose Cemetery, at the corner of Cherry St. and Black Cherry Lane in Sandy Hook. Contributions may be made to St. Rose of Lima Memorial Fund, 46 Church Hill Road, Newtown, CT 06470. To leave an online condolence visit www.honanfh.com

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