Rocco A. Evola, a resident of Darien, CT, passed away on Sunday, January 7, 2018 at home in Darien. Born on June 29, 1919 in Flushing, NY, he was the son of the late Rocco Gaetano and Maria Smania Evola. He was 98.
Before serving with the U. S. Army Corp during World War II, Rocco attended Pratt Institute. He received a B.S. degree in drafting and architecture from New York University. He taught drafting and other subjects at Thomas Edison High School in Jamaica, NY for over 30 years. After retirement, he opened and operated RAE’s Antiques and Clocks in Flushing, NY for many years. He enjoyed helping with the Darien Boy Scouts annual tag sale.
His hobbies were clock repairing and wood working. He was a member of Watch and Clock Associations, a past member of the Darien Senior Center, the Darien Senior Men’s Association and ROMEO’s (Retired Old Men Eating Out).
Rocco is survived by his two children, Kevin F. Evola of Melbourne Beach, FL and Maura J. Evola and her husband, Ed Jonker, of Darien. He is survived by two grandchildren, Scott Jonker, a student at Erasmus University, Rotterdam, the Netherlands, John Jonker, a student at Union College and his girlfriend Abi Marin, also a student at Union College. He was predeceased by his beloved wife Frances Evola.
Rocco is also survived by his siblings Julia Leskinen of Flushing, NY; Phillip Evola of Tryon, NC; Terry Catalano also of Tryon, NC; and Lawrence Evola of Buffalo, NY. He was predeceased by siblings Katie Stonehill, Louis Evola, Connie Evola, Tony Evola, John Evola, Rose Murphy, Helen Fetzer and Anna Evola.
He loved the family’s two dogs Lily and Vincent, both Cavalier King Charles Spaniels. He really liked spending time with the family, especially his grandsons, a glass of red wine with dinner and still approving Maura’s clock and collectable purchases.
The family will receive friends at the Edward Lawrence Funeral Home, 2119 Post Road, Darien on Friday, January 12, 2018 from 5:00 to 8:00 PM. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. John R.C. Church, 1986 Post Road, Darien on Saturday, January 13, 2018 at 9:30 AM.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament, 1663 Bristol Pike, Bensalem, PA 19020.
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