Valentino Christopher Di Gioia

Valentino Christopher Di Gioia of Hamden died peacefully on January 3, 2022, at Hamden Rehabilitation and Health Care Center surrounded by his loving family. He was the loving and devoted husband of 74 years to Carmela “Millie” Vozza Di Gioia.

Val was born in New Haven on February 14, 1924, to the late Archangelo and Mary Corio Di Gioia. He served his country with honor and pride in the US Navy during WWII. He was awarded the American Theater Medal, Victory Medal, Asiatic Pacific Theater Medal with 2 stars and the Philippine Liberation Ribbon with 2 stars. After being honorably discharged, Val began a career working for the Southern Connecticut Gas Co., first as a service technician and later as a draftsman prior to retiring. He was a member of the New Haven Boys Club where he was very involved in basketball and was the oldest living member of the Alpha Club. Val also enjoyed boxing, horseracing and bowling on the SCGC team and was a huge Yankee fan. Val was one of the last of “The greatest generation” of American heroes.

Besides his loving wife Millie, Val is survived by his daughter Deborah Di Gioia Signore, who lovingly cared for both he and Millie, and the late Valerie Di Gioia, and his pride and joy, his granddaughter, Bianca Joy Signore. He was predeceased by sisters Theresa Tangredi, Grace Pisani and Josephine Vozza and brothers Joseph, Carmen, Ralph, Andrew, Louis and Anthony Di Gioia. The family would like to thank the nurses and staff of Hamden Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center and VNA Community Healthcare and Hospice for the utmost kindest acre and compassion they provided to Val.

Visiting hours will be Saturday morning from 9-10 a.m. in the Iovanne Funeral Home, Inc., 11 Wooster Pl. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in St. Michael Church at 10:30 a.m. Masks are required for all indoor services. Burial with full military honors will follow in St. Lawrence Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to VNA Community Healthcare & Hospice www. connecticuthomecare.org or the charity of your choice. Share a memory and sign Val’s guest book online at www.iovanne.com.