Geno Faiella

Longtime Prince's Bay resident Geno Faiella, 94, a career U.S. Army soldier and a loving family man, died Sunday at home.

Born in Brooklyn, he grew up in Bensonhurst and graduated from New Utrecht High School in his native borough.

Mr. Faiella enlisted in the Army shortly after graduating, during World War II and began his 30-year military career. He saw combat during World War II in the European theater and was awarded the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star.

Upon his return from the war, he worked as a motor vehicle operator and electrician at the Bayonne Army Base. He retired from the Army as a sergeant in 1978.

Mr. Faiella enjoyed smoking a good cigar and relaxing. He was fond of horse racing and watching the trotters at Monmouth and other local tracks. He also liked classic cars.

He was a parishioner of St. Joseph-St. Thomas R.C. Parish, Pleasant Plains.

Mr. Faiella's wife of 38 years, Ann, died in 1994.

Surviving are his son, Steven; his daughter, JoAnn O'Brien; his sister, Gloria Anzalone, and five grandchildren.

The funeral will be Thursday from the Bedell-Pizzo Funeral Home, Tottenville, with a mass at 9:30 a.m. in St. Thomas the Apostle R.C. Church, Pleasant Plains. Burial will follow in Resurrection Cemetery, also Pleasant Plains.

Services: St. Thomas the Apostle RC Church Thursday, January 15, 2015 9:30AM

Visitation: Bedell-Pizzo Funeral Home Wednesday, January 14, 2015 2-5 & 7-9PM

Cemetery: Resurrection Cemetery (Staten Island)

Location: Bedell-Pizzo Funeral Home

Church: St. Thomas The Apostle RC Church