John J. Gonnella Jr., a 36 year resident of Peabody and former 23 year resident of Somerville and longtime resident of Charlestown, entered into eternal life on Friday, July 8, 2016 at Rosewood Nursing & Rehabilitation in Peabody following an extended illness. He was 85 years old.
John was born in Somerville on December 11, 1930, a son of the late John J. Gonnella and Catherine F. (Haggerty) Gonnella. He grew up in Charlestown where he was educated in the Boston Public School system and graduated as Class President from Charlestown High School in 1949 where he also excelled in sports and was captain of the varsity football, hockey and baseball teams his senior year. John enlisted into the United States Air Force on February 24, 1951 and served his country faithfully and with courage during the Korean Conflict. He was honorably discharged on February 23, 1957 with the rank of Airman Second Class. John began working for the Boston Gas Company and retired as a Service Manager following 42 years of dedicated employment. He enjoyed golfing, bowling, playing cards and pool, skiing, boating and also loved to dance. John is a member of the Old Charlestown Schoolboys Association.
John is the devoted father of Linda Limburg and her husband Ken, Cheryl Russo and her husband John, Karen Messuri and her husband Dan and Sandra Gonnella-Gunther and her husband Les. He is the loving Papa to Jenna, Joseph, Johnny, Danielle, Rachelle, Sayre, Emma, Matthew, Taylor and his great-grandson Noah. He is the former husband of the late Helen M. (Taylor) Gonnella. He is the loving companion of Brenda D'Agostino.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend John's visiting hours on Wednesday morning, July 13, 2016 from 9 A.M. to 10:30 A.M. in The Carr Funeral Home, 220 Bunker Hill St. Charlestown followed by his Funeral Mass in St. Mary's Church, 55 Warren St. Charlestown at 11 A.M. His burial will be at Puritan Lawn Memorial Park in Peabody.