Funeral Liturgy for Italo Rastelli can be viewed by clicking here

Mr. Italo Patsy Rastelli, 87, of Raleigh, NC, died on February 8, 2022, after a tiring battle with cancer and congestive heart failure. He was born in Paulsboro, NJ, on July 21, 1934, son of the late Domenic and Beatrice Rastelli.

Italo attended school within the Gloucester County Public Schools system. After graduating from Paulsboro High School, he joined the United States Air Force in 1952 during the Korean War and was stationed in Sculthorpe, England, for 3-1/2 years. Italo enjoyed military life and planned on making it his career. His service was unexpectedly cut short, however, due to his father’s death. As was customary during that era, as the oldest unmarried son in his family, Italo returned home to Paulsboro to take care of his widowed mother and younger siblings. It was during this time that he was hired by IBM. It was also during this time when Italo met Isabella Angela Tosti. Their first date was in 1956 to see the movie “High Society” starring Grace Kelly, Frank Sinatra, and Bing Crosby. Italo and Isabella were married on September 6, 1958, at St. John’s Catholic Church in their hometown of Paulsboro, NJ. They would go on to have 3 children together, Michele, Paul, and Matthew, and 2 grandchildren, Helena and Celia. They would have celebrated their 64th wedding anniversary this year.

Italo enjoyed an IBM career of 38 years, starting as a computer programmer and progressing to various managerial positions at several locations in South Jersey and the greater metropolitan Philadelphia area; Kingston, NY; and Raleigh, NC. It was during his years in Upstate New York that Italo would attend SUNY New Paltz, as a night student, to earn a degree in business. As Italo liked to say, “I’m just a South Jersey boy, trying to make a living.”

The highlight of Italo’s career was an assignment in Rome, Italy, from 1991-1994. While living in Rome, Italo and Isabella reconnected with their Italian relatives that both sets of parents had left behind in the 1920’s when they emigrated from Italy to America. This was a marvelous time in their lives when they enjoyed traveling throughout Europe and Italy, spending most of their free time with their beloved Italian relatives; some who lived in Rome, and others in the Abruzzo, Tuscany, and Marche regions. Their children, along with many other family members from America, enjoyed multiple trips visiting Italo and Isabella and forging new ties with their Italian family and heritage – ties that Italo had created, together with Isabella. Family members on both sides of the Atlantic are forever grateful.

Italo’s favorite past times included golfing, yard work, and watching sports, whether professional or collegiate. He enjoyed all sports, but he liked football the best. His favorite professional football team was the Philadelphia Eagles (as he was a season ticket holder for many years), and his favorite college football team was the University of Notre Dame. He was also a big fan of Duke University basketball and Coach K.

Italo was an active participant in each of the Catholic churches he attended. He joined the Catholic fraternal organization, the Knights of Columbus, at the age of 23 and became a 4th degree Knight. He was a lector at mass, a Eucharistic minister, and involved in numerous ministries. It wasn’t unusual for Italo (and Isabella) to invite new church members into their home for Easter or Thanksgiving if they didn’t have family or friends in the area; and Italo was always there to help family or friends in times of need.

In his later years, Italo was a loving and devoted grandfather to his 2 granddaughters, Helena and Celia Boyd. Together with Isabella, Italo made it a priority to visit them often in Northern Virginia and hosted them for many wonderful visits in North Carolina. He called them frequently, always checking on how they were doing in school, as their education was very important to him. He loved both girls very much, as they loved him.

Italo was preceded in death by his son, Paul Domenic; sisters, Lillie (William) Truex and Dora (Alex) Croce; and brother, John (Martha) Rastelli. He is survived by his spouse, Isabella; daughter, Michele (Rich) Boyd of Gainesville, VA; son Matthew (Leslie) Rastelli of Raleigh, NC; and 2 grandchildren, Helena and Celia Boyd. He is also survived by 3 siblings, Anthony (Judy) Rastelli, Jean Wachter, and Rita Gallagher; many nieces, nephews, and cousins both in America and Italy, and countless friends.

A Catholic mass will be held at 11:00 am on Tuesday, February 15, 2022, at St. Francis of Assisi Church located at 11401 Leesville Rd., Raleigh, NC. A military service tribute will be held immediately afterwards outdoors. Family and friends are welcome to a gathering with lunch and refreshments after the mass and military tribute at Capital Oaks Retirement Resort located at 6498 Ray Road in Raleigh.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in memory of Italo to the American Cancer Society, at: Click here for the American Cancer Society website.