Obituary of Anthony D. Etrio

Anthony D. Etrio, age 96, of Fairfield, went to be with the Lord on December 31, 2016. He passed away peacefully in the arms of his loving family. He was greeted in Heaven by his wife, Patricia J. Etrio, son, Tony Jr., parents, Dominic and Carmela Etrio, sisters, Mary Dorazio and Rosemary Rudis, and brother, John Etrio. Mr. Etrio was born in Bridgeport, CT on December 6, 1920 and was an area resident all his life. Tony was a true Patriot, and U. S. Army veteran of World War II. He was loyal and dedicated to this country, a soldier to the end. He was a motivating leader, who regularly sang songs to his platoon to lift their spirits. He was proud to be a paratrooper with the 11th Airborne Division, participating on New Guinea, as well as in the invasion of Leyte and Luzon in the Philippines, where he was wounded on each island and was awarded two Purple Hearts; the second one with an Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster, among other citations. He then helped in the occupation in Japan. Anthony was employed by Harvey Hubbell Company for thirteen years as a tool setter, and later by Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation, where he worked for 35 years. A wonderful and devoted father and grandfather, Tony was truly happiest when he was surrounded by his family. He is survived by a devoted daughter, Debra Etrio Kopczynski of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and his only grandson, Anthony Kopczynski, whom he adored, his son-in-law, James Kopczynski, sister-in-law, Josephine (Pina) Etrio, brother-in-law, Gary Rudis, niece, Teresa Garnett, nephew, Jon Etrio, and several great nieces and nephew, Belinda Wutke, Bianca Garnett, Holly Garnett, Jon Etrio Jr. and Nicole Etrio, and much loved cousin, Dolores Garofalo. Friends are invited to attend funeral services on Friday, January 6, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. in Our Lady of the Assumption Church, Fairfield for a Mass of Christian Burial. Interment with Full Military Honors will follow in Oak Lawn Cemetery, Fairfield where he will join his loving wife and beloved son. Friends may call on Friday morning from 9:30 – 10:30 a.m. at the Abriola Parkview Funeral Home, 419 White Plains Road, Trumbull. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to either Veterans Organizations: The Fisher House Wisconsin at fisherhousewi.org or to Tragedy Assistance Programs for Survivors at TAPS.org, 3033 Wilson Blvd., Suite 630, Arlington, VA 22201.