Vincent Jerry "Soapy" Zappone

03/13/2005

Vincent Jerry "Soapy" Zappone, 72, of 429 Reservoir Road died Sunday night at North Adams Regional Hospital after being stricken earlier at home. Born in North Adams on Aug. 28, 1932, son of James V. and Antoinette Macchia Zappone, he attended local schools. A decorated Navy veteran of the Korean War, he enlisted Nov. 20, 1950, and served as a machinist mate, third class, on the USS Epperson. He was honorably discharged Aug. 31, 1954. Mr. Zappone was employed for more than 42 years by the former Sprague Electric Co., having been hired as a mason and millwright in June 1950. He retired in 1992. He was a lifelong communicant of St. Anthony's Church. He was a member of the Sprague Quarter Century and Retirees clubs, the Sons of Italy Lodge 704, Dr. George L. Curran Post 996 VFW and Frank R. Stiles Post 125 American Legion. He enjoyed fishing, gardening and maintaining his home. He and his wife, the former Arlene Amelia Raina, were married June 30, 1956, in St. Anthony's Church. Besides his wife, he leaves three daughters, Mary Anne Schnare of Singer Island, Fla., Diane Flight of North Bennington, Vt., and Brenda Zappone of North Adams; four sisters, Mary Girgenti and Elizabeth "Betty" Gagne, both of North Adams, Carmen Woodside of Pontiac, Mich., and Theresa Dabrowski of Adams; a brother, Anthony Zappone of North Adams, and four grandchildren. FUNERAL NOTICE -- The funeral for Vincent J. Zappone, who died March 13, 2005, will be Thursday, March 17, at 9:45 at FLYNN & DAGNOLI-MONTAGNA HOME FOR FUNERALS, West Chapels, 521 West Main St., followed by a Liturgy of Christian Burial celebrated at 10:30 at St. Anthony of Padua Church, 64 Marshall St., by the Rev. Daniel J. O'Hear, pastor. Burial will follow in Southview Cemetery. Calling hours at the funeral home will be tomorrow, March 16, from 4 to 7. The omission of flowers is requested. Memorial donations are suggested for the St. Anthony Capital Campaign Fund or the American Diabetes Association through the funeral home. Survivors include four grandchildren, Matthew Zappone, Alex Schnare, Andrea Schnare and David Raina Flight; a son-in-law, David Flight, and nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews and cousins. He was predeceased by a brother, Jerry Zappone, on Dec. 16, 1945. He was a devoted loving husband, father and grandfather for his family and took pride in the fact that he built his own home on Reservoir Road.

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