John Dominic Misale

John Dominic Misale, 90, of Mansfield Center, husband of Constance Shirley (née Boneski ) died Wednesday, April 16, 2025 at Backus Hospital in Norwich, CT. He was born April 28, 1934 in Worcester, Massachusetts, the son of Salvatore Carmelo Misale and Felicia Rose (née Tripodi ), first generation Americans from Cosoleto, Calabria, Italy. John studied to be an Electrician at Worcester Boys' Trade High School (Worcester Technical High School) graduating in 1953 and patriotically reciting “The Gettysburg Address” at his High School graduation, as featured with his photo, in a local paper. Valentine’s Day of that year, he met the girl who who would be the love of his life, Constance Shirley Boneski. They saw each other from across the dance hall and John always said he knew then, that she would be his wife. John joined The Army in 1954 and between serving in mass (missing mess hall meals for it, until a cook took pity on John and made him sandwiches) and teaching Catechism to Army families’ children, he wrote to Connie every day, as they planned their wedding together. On June 23, 1956 they married at St. Roch’s Church in Oxford, Massachusetts. They would go on to have a family of five children, to which he was a loving, kind and devoted father and husband. He worked as an Electrician and safety professional at Agway for over 20 years and went on to be a Master Electrician at Rogers Corporation until he retired in 1999. John was respected and beloved everywhere and by everyone he devoted even a moment of his time to; patient, charismatic, kind, a true mediator and mentor, he used every, precious opportunity to teach. He taught his many grandchildren and great-grandchildren about God and skills needed for life and good craftsmanship. He was a dedicated calligrapher and would spend hours teaching his grandchildren how to look at things from different angles with his “drawing game”; he would draw a curly line or shape and challenge us to make a picture out of it. We’d then do the same and he’d make the most amazing and surprising drawings out of simple squiggles. He always challenged everyone he met to reflect deeply on life, to really consider the meaning of something, what duty and responsibility was and to make do, even when a challenge seemed difficult to overcome. Generous with his love of and devotion to Jesus, for forty years, he was, alongside his wife Connie, a leader of many prayer groups through The Diocese of Norwich’s “Spiritual Renewal” and lead a “Life in the Spirit” seminar through the former Imaculata Retreat House. He also took occasional retreats to St. Joseph’s Abbey in Spencer, Massachusetts. His family still remembers him leading prayer groups through Bible readings in the evenings, around his kitchen table, the smell of his favorite incense burning, his singing along to compline playing at sunset and his beautifully written notes on scripture in blue inked calligraphy. It can not be expressed strongly enough how many people he brought to reading scripture and following Christ. He was a very, good man. John was predeceased by his sisters, Angela Adams of Worcester, MA, Concetta Ekstrom of Worcester, MA, his granddaughter Virginia Cyr of Ballouville, CT, Seth Misale of Ashford, CT and Liam Makara of Danielson, CT. He is survived by his wife of nearly seventy years, Constance S. Misale (née Boneski), his brothers, Donald and Dominic Misale, his children Patricia Cyr and husband Roger Cyr of Ballouville, CT, Cynthia Morytko and husband Stanley Morytko of Windham, CT, John Misale Jr. and his fiance Margaret Hohengarten of Lebanon, CT, Salvatore Misale and his wife, Denise Misale of Plainfield, CT and Christopher Misale and his wife, Sharon Misale of Willimantic, CT as well as many beloved grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He will be deeply missed but in gratitude to God for his life and loving wisdom. Calling hours to honor John’s life will be held Tuesday, April 22, 2025 from 5:00 pm — 7:00 pm at Potter Funeral Home, 456 Jackson Street, Willimantic, CT 06226. A funeral mass will be held the next day, Wednesday, April 23, 2025 at 9:30 am at St. Mary Church, 46 Valley St, Willimantic, CT, with a full honors military burial at St. Joseph Cemetery on Club Road, Windham, CT.