STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Joseph J. D'Elena, 87, of Great Kills, a retired federal human resources specialist, died yesterday in Carmel Richmond Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center, Dongan Hills, where he had been a patient since Tuesday. Born and raised in Brooklyn, he lived in his native borough for most of his life. He settled in Great Kills in 2000. A federal government employee, he had worked for more than 30 years with the U.S. Assay office in downtown Manhattan, where he was a human resources specialist. He retired in 1982. Mr. D'Elena served in the U.S. Army during World War II. He saw combat in the Allied invasion of Normandy...
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Joseph J. D'Elena, 87, of Great Kills, a retired federal human resources specialist, died yesterday in Carmel Richmond Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center, Dongan Hills, where he had been a patient since Tuesday.
Born and raised in Brooklyn, he lived in his native borough for most of his life. He settled in Great Kills in 2000.
A federal government employee, he had worked for more than 30 years with the U.S. Assay office in downtown Manhattan, where he was a human resources specialist. He retired in 1982.
Mr. D'Elena served in the U.S. Army during World War II. He saw combat in the Allied invasion of Normandy and was awarded the Purple Heart.
He was a "deeply religious" man who enjoyed spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren, Jackie and Connor McCann, family said.
He also enjoyed playing bingo at the Mount Loretto Senior Center, where he was a member, and visits to Atlantic City. He was an avid Mets fan and enjoyed watching all New York sports teams play.
Mr. D'Elena was a parishioner of St. Clare's R.C. Church, Great Kills.
Along with his grandchildren, surviving are his wife of 63 years, the former Mildred Countis; his son, Wayne; his daughter, Ellen McCann, and two brothers, John and Danny.
The funeral will be Monday, from the Casey-McCallum-Rice South Shore Funeral Home, Great Kills, with a mass at 9:45 a.m. in St. Clare's R.C. Church. Burial will follow in Resurrection Cemetery, Pleasant Plains.