Joseph Morettini age 96, of Erie, passed away on Tuesday, December
8, 2020 at St. Vincent.
Arrangements will be announced by Burton Quinn
Scott Cremation and Funeral Services, West Ridge.
[Erie
Times-News on Dec. 9, 2020]
Joseph Morettini, age 96, of Erie, passed away on
Tuesday, December 8, 2020 at St. Vincent Medical Center.
He was born on July 29, 1924, to the late Gabriel and
Claudia (née Tamarise) Morettini in Lima, Peru; the second oldest of
ten children. He arrived in Erie at the age of three months.
In 1943, Joseph was drafted into the United States
Army during WWII and was assigned to E Company, 2nd Battalion, 508th
Parachute Infantry Regiment. He fought in most major European
campaigns in which the 82nd Airborne participated, including
Normandy, Holland, Rhineland, Ardennes (Battle of the Bulge) and
Central Europe, completing two combat jumps. He also served in
Eisenhower's Honor Guard. He earned the French Legion of Honor,
French Croix de Guerre, Bronze Star Medal for Valor, World War II
Victory Medal, Combat Infantryman's Badge, Good Conduct Medal,
Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster, European African Middle Eastern
Campaign Medal with four Bronze Stars, Occupational Medal, and 508th
Presidential Unit Citation.
After a courageous run with the Army, Joseph returned
to Erie and worked as a machinist at Zurn Industries for many years.
Joseph was an avid fisherman and enjoyed the
outdoors. He was also an accomplished wine maker. He loved spending
time with his family and will be greatly missed by all.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death
by his wife of 65 years, Sophie "Sally" Morettini (née Oprzondek);
daughter, Eva Rogers; son, John J. Morettini; and his siblings,
Louis Morettini, Judy Noonan, Inez Gonda, Helen Hair, and Dulio
Morettini.
He is survived by a son, Anthony J. Morettini and his
wife Catherine; siblings, Eva Porter, Shirley Warren, Claudia
Morettini and Gabriel Morettini; eight grandchildren, Lisa Haering,
Rebecca Brothers, Dean Rogers, Eric Rogers, John G. Morettini, Casie
Morettini, Christine Morettini and Joseph G. Morettini; 14
great-grandchildren and six great-great-grandchildren.
Friends may call at the Burton Quinn Scott Cremation
and Funeral Services, West Ridge, 3801 W. 26th Street (at Powell
Avenue), on Sunday from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. and on Monday
from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. All CDC guidelines will be
followed, capacity limits and social distancing will be respected,
and masks are required.
A private Mass of Christian Burial will be help at
Blessed Sacrament Church on Tuesday at 10:00 a.m. The service will
be live-streamed and can be viewed at https://www.facebook.com/BurtonFuneralHomesAndCrematoryInc.
Burial to follow at Gate of Heaven Cemetery with full Military Honors.
Sign the Guestbook at www.GoErie.com/obits. |
Joseph registered for the draft in Erie, PA on14
December 1942 and was inducted into the Army in that same city on 14
April 1943.
On 30 March 1944, he was listed as a U.S. soldier, with the
proper ASN as well as his date and place of birth arriving in
Buffalo, NY but fails, at least in those parts that are legible, to indicate his point of departure.
Erie, PA lies on the shores of Lake
Erie and Buffalo is just 100 miles further up shore and is a logical
crossing point between the U.S. and Canada. The purpose of his trip
is unknown.
Joseph was shipped overseas sometime
there after and went through jump school in England, probably at
Cottesmore.
On 31 March 1944, Pvt Morettini was
transferred from Field Force Replacement Depot #8 to Company E,
508th PIR.
Her was listed missing in action as
of 4 July 1944 but later found to be in the Detachment of Patients
in US Army Hospital Plant 4124, APO 519 US Army. That
location may have been in Kingston Lacy, Dorsetshire, England.
His diagnosis was artillery shell
fragments, in the forearm; buttock and hip.
He was released to duty and rejoi8ned
the regiment on 31 August 1944 and was transferred to Service
Company for light duty.
On 22 Novemb3er 1944 he was
transferred back to Company E..
Pvt Morettini was sent to the 50th
Field Hospital, Camp Sissonne, France as a non battle casualty on 5
December 1944 but was able to rejoin the company 10 days later.
He was promoted to Pfc on 22 January
1945.
His military decorations include the
Purple Heart and the Bronze Service Arrowhead device awarded for
participation in the Normandy assault. |
