Donald Ralph Vozzella Sr.

Donald Ralph Vozzella, age 91, passed away on January 26th, 2025 at the VA Medical Center in West Roxbury, Massachusetts. Born in Franklin, Massachusetts on February 1st, 1933, son of the late Marino and Irene (Thibodeau) Vozzella. 

Donald went to Franklin High School and joined the Navy at the age of 17 years old in 1950. He traveled the world on the aircraft carrier USS Oriskany CVA-34.

Five years later in 1955, he met and married his love, Doris Vozzella, in Walpole, Massachusetts. The couple went on to raise 5 children together, creating a beautiful family with first names all starting with the letter “D”. While raising his children in Walpole, he worked at Kendall Mills from 1962 to 1988.

As a lover of the outdoors, Donald frequently took his family camping. Traveling all over the East Coast and Canada, camping seasonally at Indian Ranch Campground in Webster for over 25 years. There, Donald met many friends that became wonderful travel companions. With these friends, they took several cruises and looked forward to taking a fall foliage trip every year. In his later years, Donald enjoyed fleeing the cold, wintery New England weather to the sunny Tarpon Springs, Florida.

Donald’s biggest joy in life was becoming a grandfather. He became the proud grandfather of 4 grandchildren that he was very close with. Donald was very involved in each of their lives from traveling with them, going out to eat, and watching their sports games to name a few. This allowed him to create memories with his grandchildren that they each will cherish forever.  

Donald was a man of many interests. Over the course of his life, he enjoyed both hunting, fishing, and boating with his family. He loved all food that was pickled and the occasional Narragansett beer. He enjoyed watching the birds alongside Doris. He was also an avid collector of both stamps and coins, items he treasured all the way up until he passed.

Everywhere he went, Donald’s matter-of-factness and sense of humor put a smile on the faces of those around him. He almost always had his staple Navy hat on, where veterans and families of veterans would always stop him whilst out and about to comment on his hat.

Beloved husband of the late Doris Vozzella of Walpole, MA.

Loving father survived by:

Donald Jr. of Plainville, MA

Daniel Vozzella of North Attleboro, MA
Douglas Vozzella of Fort Myers, FL

Diane and her husband Chris Anderson of Norfolk, MA

Deneen and her husband Cliff Snuffer of Walpole, MA

Cherished grandfather of Olivia, Melissa, Cliff IV, and J.D.

Brother of the late Kenneth Vozzella, late Norman (Buddy) Vozzella, Roberta (Bobby) Gotovich, and Nancy Carlucci.

Loving Uncle to many special nieces and nephews, enjoying time together when they visited him.

“See Yar Later!”

In lieu of a traditional wake, the family will hold a private celebration of life service at a later date.