Joseph A. Raffone 1939-2021
Joseph A. Raffone was a larger than life person. If Joe was in your life, you knew you were surely blessed. Generous, kind, and caring, you could always count on Joe! There was no problem that Joe couldn’t solve, no person that Joe couldn’t convert to a friend, and no challenge in life that was left unmet.
An Italian-American with a Grand Avenue swagger, Joe had a precise aim on any target that caught his attention, especially the love of his life, Carol P. Raffone. Joey and Carol, married for almost 50 years, opened Rite-Way Alarms, Inc. where many customers became part of the family. Everyone in town eventually made Rite-Way’s famous “picture wall.” Rite-Way was his baby, but let’s be clear, nobody came before Joe’s daughters Krissy (Kristin Raffone Vazquez of Draper, Utah) and Nina (Jeannine Raffone Dwyer (James P. Dwyer) of Lumberton, New Jersey). Papa Joe instilled his girls with Raffone family values that he learned alongside his siblings Eugene E. Raffone (Phyllis Raffone) of Orange, Connecticut; Lawrence Raffone (Barbara Raffone) of Milford, Connecticut; and Roberta Niwore (Ernest Niwore) of New Haven, Connecticut.
Papa Joe’s legacy continues in his grandchildren: Carolyn Angel Vazquez (17) and Arianna Noel Vazquez (13) of Draper, Utah and Sophia Marie Dwyer (15); Autumn Noelle Dwyer (13); and James P. Dwyer (11) of Lumberton, New Jersey.
Papa Joe loved fishing derbies, Sunday sauce and meatballs, fast cars, Godfather movies, his Pepsi-Cola glass (although he preferred Coca-Cola in a glass bottle), sketching, and praying his morning rosary.
His family appreciates and respects the companionship of Catherine Prete and the special bond Joe had with his “son” Jason Michaud. The family also acknowledges everyone reading this. You know how special each of you were to him.
As we raise a glass of Amaretto on the rocks…we say, “Here’s looking at you, Joe!”
A private, immediately family Funeral Service will be livestreamed on Wednesday, January 20, 2021. To view livestream please visit https:// oneroomstreaming.com/ and use Event ID: Codywhitefh and Password: WNDGUQ. Burial will be private, however livestreaming will be available at that time through Jeannine Dwyer’s Facebook Live. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Mary’s Church in Milford. To leave online condolences, please visit our website at www.codywhitefuneralservice. com.