Obituary of Joseph J. Conti

Joseph J. Conti Joseph J. Conti, 87, of Rome, passed away peacefully on Easter Sunday, April 5, 2015, in Houston, Texas, with his loving family by his side. Joe was born on August 13, 1927 in Rome, NY, the son of the late Anthony and Rose Lagatta Conti, and was the eldest of their three sons. He was a lifelong resident of Rome. On September 12, 1953 he married Jean Norelli in St. John the Baptist Church, a loving union for 62 years. Before marriage, he proudly served in the US Navy during WWII in the South Pacific aboard the USS Buchanan destroyer. One of his most memorable experiences was when his ship was anchored next to the Battleship Missouri, the day the Peace Treaty was signed, and enjoyed the celebration. After the war, he returned home to Rome, to continue his education and became an accomplished building trade's contractor. He continued his career at Griffiss Air Force Base and retired in 1983 as Deputy Chief of Operations for the 416th Civil Engineering Squadron at Griffiss AFB. After retiring from GAFB, Joe continued to work, often helping others, was actively involved in real estate and enjoyed traveling domestically and abroad, including wintering in the south. He was a life member of BPO Elks Lodge #96 and a member of the Toccolana Club. He is survived by his beloved wife Jean and four children: Joseph (Patricia) Conti of Houston, TX, Joan Conti Whitney of Buffalo, NY, Joyce (Gary) Brown of Houston, TX and Jacqueline Conti of Albany, NY, his nine cherished grandchildren, a brother Alex (Nancy) Conti of Rome, and a sister-in-law; Carmella Conti of CA; several nieces and nephews, and a special nephew; Jim (Barbara) Acchino of Rome. He was predeceased by his parents, a brother, Anthony Conti and a son-in-law, Dr. Stewart B. Whitney. Joe was a loving and generous husband and father and a proud, adoring grandfather. We thank God for the gift of his life, his smile, and the blessing of the time we spent with him. We all will miss him. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, April 18, 2015, at 10:00 a.m. at St. John the Baptist Church with the Rev. Paul F. Angelicchio and Rev. Robert L. Kelly officiating. There are no calling hours. The family will receive friends at the church from 9:00 – 9:45 a.m. Interment will be in St. John the Baptist Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Joe's memory may be made to the American Lung Association, 55 W. Wacker Drive, Suite 1150, Chicago, Il., 60601 (www.lung.org) or to the Rome Elks Scholarship Fund, 126 W. Liberty Street, Rome, NY, 13440. Arrangements are by the Nicholas J. Bush Funeral Home, Inc., 218 W. Court St. To offer online condolences, please visit www.njbushfuneralhome.com.