Obituary of Kenneth L. Abriola

Beloved Husband, Father and Grandfather Kenneth L. Abriola, age 79, of Trumbull, a local area funeral director, died on Tuesday, June 30, 2009 at Hartford Hospital. Born and raised in Bridgeport, he was a son of the late Salvatore and Jennie Abriola, and was a member of the Central High School Class of 1948 and had served with the reunion committee. He graduated from the Renouard Training School for Embalmers in New York City and attended the University of Bridgeport. At the age of 19 years old he joined the family business, Louis A. Abriola & Son Funeral Home on Bridgeports East Side, as a third generation funeral director. Ken was a past president of the Greater Bridgeport Area Funeral Directors Association, and also a member of the National Funeral Directors Association and Connecticut Funeral Directors Associations (CFDA). Under Kens leadership and after overcoming many hurdles, in the summer of 1999, the Abriola family completed a total renovation and an addition to a historic estate in Trumbull and opened the Abriola Parkview Funeral Home. In 2002, Ken was honored by the CFDA for 50 years of dedicated service as a licensed funeral director and in 2006, the CFDA honored the Abriolas in celebration of 100 years in funeral service in the greater Bridgeport area. As a youth, Ken enjoyed playing basketball and baseball, and was a founder and charter member of the Highland Athletic Association. He managed the 1952 Highlanders A. A. Baseball Team, which won the Park City League Championship with a perfect 10-0 record. He also was the manager of the 1957 Highlanders team which represented the Park City in Battle Creek, Michigan in the World Amateur Baseball Congress. Presently, no other team from Bridgeport has ever played in this event, and in 2007 the Bridgeport Senior City League recognized Ken with a 50th Anniversary Appreciation Award. He was a member of the Oldtimers Athletic Association, and in 1985, he received their Outstanding Sportsman Award. He was devoted to Holy Rosary Church, where he served on the Parish Council, the Festival Committee for the Feast of St. Anthony and was a member of the Mens Club. Ken had great pride in his ethnic heritage and the Italian-American community. He was a long time member and past officer of the Trinacria M. A. Society and received the Trinacria Civic Award in 1988. He was also a member of the Council of Italian American Societies, UNICO, Sons of Italy and had membership in the former Italian Community Center of Bridgeport and Trumbull Italian Community Club, and received the T.I.C.C. Merit Award in 1966. Ken was a 3rd degree member of Knights of Columbus St. Frances X. Cabrini Council 4096 and a member of St. Vincents Heart Club. He will be deeply missed by his loving family, and the many friends he met through sports, church and community organizations. Survivors include his beloved wife of 51 years, Jean Corarito Abriola, two sons, Dr. Kenneth P. Abriola and his partner Michael Viola of Hartford and James S. Abriola and his wife Laura of Trumbull and his three cherished grandchildren, Rachel Marie, Christina Nicole and Vincent James. He is also survived by his mother in law, Alice Bennett Corarito, a brother, Dr. Salvatore Abriola and his wife Olga, two sisters in law, Alberta Pelletier and her husband Roland and Rose Sawicki and her husband Donald and many nieces, nephews and cousins. The family would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to the nurses, staff and doctors of the Hartford Hospital Bliss Center 9th floor Cardiac ICU for their professionalism and kindness. Funeral Information Funeral services will take place on Monday, July 6, 2009 at 9:00 a.m. from the Abriola Parkview Funeral Home, 419 White Plains Road, Trumbull, and at 10:00 a.m. in Holy Rosary Church, Bridgeport for a Mass of Christian Burial. Interment will follow in Nichols Village Cemetery, Trumbull. Friends may visit Sunday, July 5, 2009 from 1-6 p.m. Donations Information In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Holy Rosary Church Restoration Fund, 365 East Washington Ave., Bridgeport, CT 06608 or the Trumbull Emergency Medical Service (TEMS), 250 Middlebrooks Ave., Trumbull, CT 06611.