Michael G. Soletro

Michael G. Soletro, a lifetime resident of Port Jervis, N.Y., died Thursday, Nov. 9, 2017, at Milford Senior Care and Rehabilitation Center, Milford, Pa. He was 90.
Son of the late George Soletro and the late Mary A. Amato Soletro, he was born Oct. 19, 1927, in Port Jervis.
He proudly served in the U.S. Marine Corps C-1-5 Division during World War II and was a member of the Tri-State Naval Ship VFW Post #7241, Port Jervis. In September of 2014 He was honored to be a participant on the Hudson Valley Honor Flight with his good friend Jim Cullinan as his Escort.
He married Patricia Ann Rowlands on Nov. 19, 1955, in St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church, Port Jervis. They were married for 59 years prior to her passing.
He worked in construction as a Mason for Mickey Hunt and Vince Calvario and later in life went to work for the U.S. Postal Service in Port Jervis, from which he retired. In his retirement he also worked for Conrad, Close and Ewald Surveyors of Port Jervis.
He was a member of St. James The Greater Roman Catholic Church, Montague, N.J. He was a member of the Port Jervis Elk’s Lodge BPOE #645 and a former member of the Hawks Nest Hunting Club, where he also cooked for the guys.
A family statement read: "Mike was a devoted and loving husband, father, grandfather, and passionate about his military service and beliefs."
Surviving are his daughter, Valerie Ann Ricciardi, and her husband, William J., of Matamoras, Pa.; granddaughters, Catherine Mary Ricciardi and Emilia Ricciardi, both of Matamoras; niece, Sally Harmon of South Pasadena, Fla.; nephew, Peter Stellato of St. Petersburg, Fla.; sister, Madeline Mason of Matamoras; and sisters-in-law, Marjorie Worden and Joan Rowlands, both of Port Jervis.
He was predeceased by his sister Ann Stellato.
Visitation will be at the Gray-Parker Funeral Home, 100 E. Main St., Port Jervis, on Friday, Nov. 17, from 3 to 6 p.m.
Funeral services will be Saturday, Nov. 18, with a 10 a.m. prayer at the funeral home followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. in St. James The Greater Roman Catholic Church, 75 River Road, Montague, N.J., with the Rev. Wayne Varga officiating.
Burial with military honors will be in St. Mary's Cemetery, Port Jervis.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. James The Greater Roman Catholic Church, 210 Route 206, Sandyston, NJ 07826; and the Hudson Valley Honor Flight, Attn: Donations, PO Box 375, Walden, NY 12586.