Obituary of Harold J. Raffetto

HAROLD JOHN RAFFETTO, 92, passed away after a short illness

on Friday, Dec. 6, 2019. He was born on Jan. 28,1927 in Brooklyn, the

son of Louis Anthony and Anna (Garbarino) Raffetto.

  He attended Sewanhaka H.S. in Floral Park. In his junior year, he enlisted in the

Navy as a Pharmacist Mate and served in the Atlantic theater during WWII on

the USS Cadmus AR14. After his honorable discharge in 1945, he

received his GED from John Adams H.S.

  He met Rose Mary Barbato in 1949 at the Community Gardens in

Queens Village. They married in 1951 and built a house in Garden

City Park where they raised their family. He worked in the trucking,

concrete manufacturing and tunneling businesses. Notable projects

include the DC Subway, Chicago Waterways, and the Baltimore

Underground Mass Transit System.

  He was a member of Teamsters Local 282, a supporter of the NHP

Gladiator Fund and a parishioner of St. Anne's Church in Garden

City, where he served as an usher for many years. He was a lifelong fan of the NY Giants

and the NY Yankees. He also enjoyed traveling to Europe, Cape Cod,

and Florida with his family.

  He is predeceased by his wife of 44 years, Rose Mary; granddaughter,

Kristine; and his sister, Claire McCabe. Surviving members of Harold's

family are his son, Edward (Kathy) of Garden City Park; his daughter,

Patricia Conway (Peter) of Naples, FL; grandchildren, Lauren

Conway Modahl (Martin), Danielle Vulpis, Ryan Conway (Molly),

Toni Lyne Raffetto; great-grandchildren, Nicholas, Gianna, Aerin

and Norah; and several nieces and nephews.

  A service of remembrance will be held on Friday, Dec. 13, 2019 at the

Park Funeral Chapels. A mass celebrating his life will be on Saturday,

Dec. 14, 2019 at 9 AM at St. Anne's Church in Garden City with

internment at Holy Rood Cemetery . Those who wish to remember

Harold in a special way can make a donation to the NHP Gladiator

Fund, PO Box 100, 2nd Avenue , New Hyde Park, NY 11040.