VALAITIS, Joseph V.

Joseph V. Valaitis, 69, of Thomaston, husband of Virginia (Welton) Valaitis, died Thursday, Dec. 11, 2008, at his home. Joe was born Feb. 24, 1939, in Waterbury. He was the son of Bernice (Noreikis) Sanzeri of Thomaston and the late Joseph V. Valaitis Sr. He had been a resident of Terryville before moving to Thomaston. He was a U.S. Navy veteran of Vietnam serving as a nuclear reactor operator in submarines. Before his retirement, he worked as a carpenter and site supervisor for Arthur Industries. Joe was a communicant of the Immaculate Conception Church, Terryville; was a member and 4th Degree Knight with Knights of Columbus; member of the American Legion Plymouth Post No. 20; and former member of the Terryville Lions Club. Joe coached Little League, Babe Ruth and American Legion Baseball in Terryville for 25 years. Joe was an avid fisherman and hunter. Besides his wife and mother, he leaves, his two sons and daughters-in-law, Wayne and Maryann Valaitis of West Haven, Joseph C. and Julie Valaitis of Barkhamsted; his daughter and son-in-law, Lynn M. and Marc LaPierre of Torrington; his two brothers, Ralph Sanzeri of Thomaston and Vincent Sanzeri of New York; his sister, Barbara Krol of Wolcott; his seven grandchildren, Morgan, Mitch, Katie, Sophia, Periece, Derek and Austin. He also leaves several nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held Monday at 9:30 a.m. from Scott Funeral Home, 169 Main St., Terryville to the Immaculate Conception Church for a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. Military honors will follow. Friends may call at the funeral home Sunday from 4 to 6 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Plymouth Community Food Pantry, 30 Dewey Ave., Terryville, CT 06786. (www.scottfuneralhomeinc.com).