Benedict T. Castriota

Benedict T. Castriota, 72 of Bethlehem, passed away on July 24, 2012. He was the husband of Mary Jane (Gunning) Castriota with whom he shared 13 years of marriage. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Rose Marie (Matteo) Castriota. He was born in Brooklyn, NY, the son of the late Thomas and Anna (Fichera) Castriota.

Ben served as a police officer with the NYPD in the Helicopter and Highway Patrol Division for 23 years, retiring in 1989. Ben was a proud veteran who served in the Marine Corps during the Vietnam conflict and the US Army in active and reserve duty for nearly 30 years, retiring as a Chief Warrant Officer-3. He was a member of the Notre Dame of Bethlehem Catholic Church and was active in many community organizations in New York and Pennsylvania. He was an avid model railroad enthusiast, member of the Guthsville, Hellertown and Unami gun clubs and a youth rifle target instructor.

In addition to his loving wife Mary Jane, he will be remembered by his children, Thomas and wife, Deborah, Ann Marie Beery and husband, Matthew, Steven and wife Ann Marie and Michele Sparks and husband, Vernon and his twenty-three grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his brother, Thomas, late husband of Maria (Argento) Castriota.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Connell Funeral Home, 245 E. Broad Street, Bethlehem, where viewing hours will be held on Thursday from 6 to 9 p.m., on Friday from 1 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 9 p.m., and on Saturday from 8:45 to 9:45 a.m. A mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Saturday at 10:30 a.m. in the Notre Dame Catholic Church, 1861 Catasauqua Rd., Bethlehem. Burial will take place on Monday at 12 p.m. in the Long Island National Cemetery in Melville, NY.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Luke's Hospice Development Office, 801 Ostrum St., Bethlehem, PA 18015 or the Guthsville JR. Rod and Gun Rifle Team, PO Box 156, Orefield, PA 18069.

Cemetery
Long Island National Cemetery
2040 Wellwood Avenue
Farmingdale NY 11735-1211
US

Visitation
Thursday, July 26, 2012
6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Connell Funeral Home, Inc.
245 East Broad St.
Bethlehem PA 18018
US
610-868-8531

Visitation
Friday, July 27, 2012
1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Connell Funeral Home, Inc.
245 East Broad St.
Bethlehem PA 18018
US
610-868-8531

Visitation
Friday, July 27, 2012
6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Connell Funeral Home, Inc.
245 East Broad St.
Bethlehem PA 18018
US
610-868-8531

Visitation
Saturday, July 28, 2012
8:45 AM - 9:45 AM
Connell Funeral Home, Inc.
245 East Broad St.
Bethlehem PA 18018
US
610-868-8531

Mass of Christian Burial
Saturday, July 28, 2012
10:30 AM
Notre Dame Catholic Church
1861 Catasauqua Rd.
Bethlehem PA 18018
US

Burial
Monday, July 30, 2012
12:00 PM
Long Island National Cemetery
2040 Wellwood Avenue
Farmingdale NY 11735-1211
US

Funeral HomeConnell Funeral Home, Inc.
245 East Broad St.
Bethlehem PA - 18018
US
610-868-8531