Frank W. LaSella, of Milford, passed away on December 18, 2024.

Frank W. LaSella of Milford, CT passed away on December 18, 2024, at Lord Chamberlain Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Stratford, CT after a long battle with dementia.

Frank was the son of the late Frank LaSella of Bridgeport CT and Delia Gilbride LaSella of County Caven, Ireland. He was born on May 9, 1932 in Bridgeport CT.

Frank was a child of The Great Depression and WWII growing up in Bridgeport CT before moving to Lordship CT at an early age with his parents along with his siblings, Violet, Agnes, John and Joan. He enjoyed telling stories about working hard to earn a dime from odd jobs to go see the Western picture shows and hopefully have enough left over for a piece of rock candy. He grew up during a period of time when being frugal meant much more than it does today, and he passed that lesson onto his children through the way he lived his life.

His profession was the blue collar lost art of “Rigging” (someone who moves machinery/anything using ropes, cables & pulleys) and he was one of the best at it, just like his father. He worked for Bridgeport Rigging in Bridgeport, CT for over 30 years before his semi-retirement. He could take apart a 2-story machine from inside a factory, move it out a garage door and reassemble it in another factory….and make it look easy…. He was immensely proud of the work he did. Frank went into Real Estate Sales as a semi-retirement job to keep busy, no one could confuse him with a salesperson, he was far too honest and told every client exactly what was wrong with every house he showed them.

He owned and managed several investment properties doing most of the maintenance, upkeep and tenant communications himself during retirement. He was generous to a fault and the most Genuine/Kind person you could ever meet. Frank would proactively talk with his tenants about how to save for their own home and why it was a bad financial decision to rent. He would often find houses for them to buy so they could own their own home, even helping them financially to make the purchase (which in turn caused him to lose a tenant). He could not be convinced this was a bad thing for him financially if it helped another person improve their lives, it was simply the right thing to do.

Frank enjoyed playing golf, pool, cards, shuffleboard, darts and gathering family and friends in his Garage Man Cave to spend invaluable time together creating memories for everyone to hold onto. Anyone he met with that Amazing and Endearing Smile remembered him and he left them feeling better about themselves.

He loved to tell the story of meeting his wife Maureen Ahern LaSella, who emigrated from the UK, at a dance (he didn’t dance, she did). After seeing her dance, he knew he had to learn how to dance so that no one else could dance with her and they danced through life together for almost 50 years…. he was always the calm presence, and she was the cheerful sometimes crazy energy. Frank often said he would never have travelled far from CT had he not met Maureen, who wanted to see the world. He was grateful for her adventurous spirit which led him to see the world through their extensive travel together, he simply adored her. He led a relatively simple life by many standards, but it was absolutely a life well lived and full of love. His family and friends were Blessed to have him in their lives for 92 years as an example of how to live life by the way you treat others. He was without question one of the best human beings anyone ever had the honor of knowing, that has been the constant refrain from everyone he touched since hearing of his passing.

Frank was predeceased by his parents Frank and Delia LaSella, wife Maureen Ahern LaSella, sister Joan LaSella, brother John LaSella and his son Frank (Butch) LaSella.

He is survived by his sisters Violet Battalino of Milford, CT and Agnes Blankschen of Danbury CT, daughters Delia Baluchinsky (John) of Watertown CT and Sheila LaSella of Stratford, CT: his sons Patrick LaSella (Donna) of Milford, CT and Kevin LaSella (Karen) of Meredith, NH; grandchildren Amber Mauro (Luke), Anthony Verdi, Ryan LaSella, Bethany Giraldo (Leo), Justin LaSella, Kelyn Campbell, Sarah LaSella, Kyle LaSella, Colin LaSella (Stella) and great grandchildren Nicholas and Austin Mauro.

Family and friends are invited to gather on Saturday, December 28, 2024, at 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at the Cody-White Funeral Home, 107 Broad Street, Milford. A Mass of Christian Burial will immediately follow at 12:00 p.m. at Saint Mary Church (Precious Blood Parish), 70 Gulf Street, Milford, CT 06460.