James V. DeSalvo
James (Jimmy) V. DeSalvo, 91, formerly of Rome, passed away on December 31, 2022, at the Dulles Health and Rehabilitation Center in Herndon, Virginia, with his daughter Michelle, son-in-law Timmy, and granddaughter Megan by his side.
Our parents loved celebrating every New Year’s Eve at the Beeches, dining and dancing. This New Year’s Eve, our dad arrived in Heaven, right on time, to dance with our mom.
Jimmy was born June 28, 1931, in Rome, New York, the son of the late Nazio and Antoinette (Masucci) DeSalvo. He was a graduate of Rome Free Academy the Class of 1949. Jimmy served in the United States Army from April 1952 – March 1954. He retired after 25 years of service working as a Powered Ground Mechanic at Griffiss AFB, Rome.
On May 14, 1955, Jimmy married the love of his life, Lucy M. (Summa) DeSalvo, a blessed union that lasted sixty-one years until her passing on January 8, 2017. Jimmy loved to play the trumpet and played in the RFA band. Jimmy always had a joke to tell and was the life of the party. He also was the first one to get up at weddings and start the “air instrument rock and roll band”.
He is survived by his daughters and sons-in-law. Roxanne and Michael Wehnke of Cortland, and Michelle and Timothy Johnson of Leesburg, VA. Jimmy’s greatest pride and joy were his 5 grandchildren Michael Wehnke (former wife Amy Lang-Wehnke), Jeremy (Indira) Wehnke, Megan (Leighton) DuCille, Kara Graham, and Brett Johnson. He also leaves behind 4 great-grandchildren, Alysha Wehnke, Aaron Wehnke, Mason Graham, and Maeve DuCille. He is survived by several nieces and nephews whom he loved as if they were his own children.
He was predeceased by his parents, his wife Lucy, his sister Edith Rebisz, brother Stephen DeSalvo, and in-laws Vito and Carmella Summa. Jimmy was also predeceased by brothers and sisters-in-laws William Rebisz, Josephine DeSalvo, William and Kay Oppito, Thomas and Delores Oppito, Sebastian Oppito, Richard and Grace Gannon, Kate Oppito, Edward and Angie Barella, Larry and Mamie Sonsini, Sam and Mary Malarzo, and Henry and Minnie Antonucci.
The family would like to give a very special thanks to Capital Caring Hospice for ensuring our dad received comfort care in his final days.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Tuesday, January 10, 2023 at 1:00 pm at St. John the Baptist Church, 210 E. Dominick St. with the Rev. Paul F. Angelicchio as celebrant. There will be no calling hours. Interment will be in St. John’s Cemetery in the Spring.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests Mass cards in memory of James or donations may be made to Capital Caring Hospice, 3180 Fairview Park Drive, Suite 500, Falls Church, VA, 22042.
Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the Bottini Funeral Home, 120 W. Embargo St.
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