Shrewsbury – George J. DelFem, United States Navy, Retired, 70, of Shrewsbury and Greentown, Penn., passed away in the loving arms of his wife Tuesday, April 21, 2015.
George is survived by his wife, Debra (Bondanza) DelFem; three daughters, Lisa DelFem of Worcester and Greentown, Penn., Tracy Kniskern and her fiancé Christopher Bird of Shrewsbury, and Jennifer Hasselstrom and her husband Michael of Worcester; his mother, Marie (Ruffanelli) DelFem of Shrewsbury; nine grandchildren, Thomas “TJ” Brunell of North Brookfield, Heather Brunell of Southbridge, Bridget Brunell of Worcester, Symantha Surowaniec of Shrewsbury, Christopher and Vincent Bird of Shrewsbury, Brenden Mozer, Conner and Kayleigh Rose Hasselstrom, all of Worcester; and a great-grandson, Julian Beasley. He was predeceased by a grandson, Caleb Hasselstrom.
George was born in Treveso, Italy, son of the late Arthur LaMontagne, and came to Worcester as an infant, settling with his family on East Central Street, before moving to Shrewsbury in 1957.
George served his nation proudly in the U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, and the National Guard from 1964 to 1980. After his retirement from the military, he worked as a security guard for Philmark Security Company. He later worked as a constable for the Worcester County Sheriff, retiring several years ago.
He was a member of East Side Post 201 in Worcester and the Victor Quaranta Post 397 in Northborough. He was very active in the Reunion Group for the Sailors of the U.S.S. Allagash AO97, and served as the group’s treasurer from 1993 to 2013.
Calling hours for George will be held Saturday, April 25, from 2-4 p.m., followed by a funeral service at 4 p.m. in the Mercadante Funeral Home & Chapel, 370 Plantation St., Worcester. Sailors from the United States Navy will present Military Funeral Honors at the conclusion of the services.
The family has asked that flowers be omitted and donations in memory of George J. DelFem be made to the Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758517, Topeka, KS, 66675 or to the Promise Land Volunteer Fire and Ambulance, P.O. Box 420, Greentown, PA 18426.
