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01/14/2013 10:00 AMJoseph C. Bennica, 93, of Northford, died Dec. 28 at Yale-New Haven Hospital. Joseph was the husband of the late Mary Calabrese Bennica. He was born in Ansonia on July 14, 1919, son of the late Caloggio and Maria Patti Bennica. Joseph had served his country faithfully in the U.S. Army during World War II. He was inducted in 1941 and assigned to the 340th General Hospital, then to the 906th Ordinance Heavy Automotive Maintenance Company. He was honorably discharged in 1945 and received the American Defenses Service Medal, the American Service Medal, the European-African Middle Eastern Service Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, and the World War II Victory Medal.
Joseph re-enlisted in the USAR in 1950, earning the rank of sergeant first class E-7 and was awarded the Army Medal of Commendation for Meritorious Service for service, as well as a special recognition award for his “Outstanding Service and Dedicated Leadership.” He was honorably discharged from active duty in the USAR in May 1976 and immediately re-enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserves, where he continued to serve honorably and later retired at age 60 on July 13, 1979. He was awarded numerous additional military awards of recognition and also a medal of commendation for his many years of meritorious service.
Joseph had worked for the former General Truck Distribution and later for the U.S. government as an area facility engineer. He was a dutiful member of VFW Post 8294 where he also served for several years as Post chaplain. He provided assistance and support to the Young Marines and was also a member of the North Branford Senior Center and the Jolly Timers.
He is survived by two children, Lisa Evarts and her husband E.T. Evarts and Bryan C. Bennica and his wife Katrina, as well as five grandchildren, Brenda Gray and her husband Andrew, Michael Glynn, Bryan C. Bennica, Jr., Ellsworth Treat Evarts IV, and Brandon Bennica. He was predeceased by his two brothers, Salvatore and Ernest Bennica, and a sister, Esther Hecker.
Funeral services will be conducted at the North Haven Funeral Home, 36 Washington Ave., North Haven, on Friday, Jan. 11, at 11 a.m., followed by burial with full military honors in All Saints Cemetery. Visiting hours will be Thursday, Jan. 10, from 6 to 8 p.m. www.northhavenfuneral.com