Vito J. Calise, age 91, formerly of Opper Avenue, Warwick, died on Wednesday, December 28, 2016, at Riverview Healthcare Community in Coventry. He was the husband of Alice L. (Hoppman) Calise. They were married for 67 years.
Born in Warwick, a son of the late Crescenzo and Assunta (D’Ambra) Calise, he served with the United States Marine Corps in World War II as part of the occupation force in China. He was a graduate of Rhode Island College. Mr. Calise was employed as a carpentry instructor at the Coventry Vocational School for over 20 years before his retirement. He lived in Warwick for most of his life, and in Flagler Beach, Florida from 1986 to 2013. While in Florida, he was a member of Santa Maria Del Mar Church, and the Flagler Beach Knights of Columbus.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by three sons; Christopher P. Calise of Sun City West, AZ, James V. Calise of East Greenwich, and Raymond J. Calise of Warwick; two daughters, Patricia L. Basile of Warwick and Elizabeth A. Limerick of Foster; twelve grandchildren and twenty-two great-grandchildren. He was the brother of the late Fay Hood, Concetta Gavin and Andrew “Banjo” Calise.
His funeral was held on Tuesday, January 3, from the Barrett & Cotter Funeral Home, 1328 Warwick Avenue, Spring Green, Warwick, with a Mass of Christian Burial in St. Benedict Church, 135 Beach Avenue, Warwick. Burial with military honors was in the Rhode Island Veterans Cemetery, Exeter.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory may be made to The Alzheimer’s Association, RI Chapter. www.barrettandcotter.com
