James Andrew Bilotta (Jim)
Born January 5, 1920, Somerville, MA to Veronica Dastoli and Andrea Bilotta. Orphaned by the time he was 6, he was fortunately fostered by Antonetta Aquaro in Lexington, MA. After graduation from Lexington High School in 1939, and with work hard to come by, Jim joined the Marine Corp. He served in the Asiatic-Pacific Theatre and was stationed at Pearl Harbor when it was attacked on December 7, 1941. His service took him to Palmyra Island, Marshall Islands and Okinawa during WWII. He attained the rank of Gunnery Sergeant before being honorably discharged in December 1945. Jim has been a proud member of the American Legion Post 9, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1617 and the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association.
In 1947, Jim married Edith Marjorie Luna with whom he has shared 71 years of marriage. Together they raised 4 biological children (3 sons and a daughter) and fostered five boys, two into adulthood. Jim worked as an oil burner technician and for the US Postal Service before retiring. In his retirement, he enjoyed woodworking, gardening, bowling, watching Boston sports, especially the NE Patriots and Red Sox and traveling with Edith from their home in Derry, NH and photographing each and every trip and family event. Jim was also active in his local AARP chapter and his church, St. Thomas Aquinas. Some of Jim’s greatest joys were sharing his garden bounty with extended family and friends throughout the years.
In addition to his wife Edith, Jim leaves his sons, Richard Bilotta and wife Terri, Stephen Bilotta and wife Andrea, Kenneth Bilotta and his partner, Annie Pare and daughter, Marion Bilotta Case. He was predeceased by sons, George and Bill Owen, brothers Peter Bilotta, Vincenzo Christopher Bilotta and sisters Ann Bartlett and Elizabeth Morits. Jim also leaves grandchildren Anne Marie Varney, Richard Bilotta and wife Heather, Travis Campbell and wife Jennifer, Troy Campbell and wife Karen, Mark Bilotta, Sarah Bilotta, James Bilotta, Kenneth Bilotta, Stephen Bilotta and wife Samantha, and Gregory Case and wife Angela, along with great-grandchildren Nikeya Gadwah and husband Leon, Troy Richard Campbell, Emily Campbell, Tyler Campbell, James Thibodeau, Richard Hodgson, Brooke Bilotta, Grace Bilotta, Josephine James Case and great-great grandchildren Blake Gadwah and Amara Gadwah, nieces Mary Morits, Elaine Buckley and husband Ken, Carol LaGrange, Marie DeLuca and husband Paul, and nephews James Bartlett and wife Phyllis, Thomas Morits, Barrett Bilotta and wife Peggy, David Wilhelmi and all of their extended families and his many friends. Jim will be deeply missed by all who knew him.
After cremation a visitation was held Friday, September 14, 2018 from 10:00am to 12:30pm at the Peabody Funeral Homes and Crematorium, 15 Birch Street, Derry, NH. A funeral service followed with Military Honors at 12:30. In lieu of flowers, kindly consider a donation in honor of Jim to the American Legion, Post 9 Derry, NH or VFW Post 1617, Derry, NH.