NEWPORT – John A. Toce Sr., 71, died Jan. 16, 2012, at a Bangor hospital after a long illness. He was born Jan. 20, 1940, in Hartford, Conn., son of Rocco A. and Asunta (Cavallo) Toce.
He was educated in Connecticut schools. John married Gloria Schnitzke, Sept. 19, 1956, in South Carolina. John was employed in building construction in Connecticut for many years until he had to retire due to ill health. He was a member of Teamsters Union in Connecticut, while he was employed in construction. John’s Catholic faith was very strong and he always said it was this faith that got him through all his medical conditions.
He is survived by his beloved wife of 55 years, Gloria A. Toce of Newport; son, William J. Toce and his wife, Connie, of Florida; daughter, Darlene M. (Toce) Witham and her husband, Ryan, of Florida; their niece that they raised as their daughter, Shelly (Schnitzke) Blake; three brothers, Rocco, Ronald and Daniel, all of Connecticut; four sisters, Theresa Brown, Carmela Levere, Rosemarie Hiltgen and Carol Kelly, all of Connecticut; seven grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, several nieces, nephews and cousins. John was predeceased by his son, John A. Toce Jr., in 2003; two brothers, Tony and Gerald; and two sisters, Elaine and Anna.
Friends may call 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 20, at Brown Funeral Home and Cremation Service Center, 34 High St., Newport. A Mass of Christian burial will begin 1 p.m. Friday at St. Agnes Catholic Church, Detroit Avenue, Pittsfield, with Father Paul Murray officiating. In lieu of flowers, the family request donations be made to Kasey Lander Memorial Fund, care of Gary Braley, 21 Lake Ave., Newport, ME 04953. To sign an online guest book, please visit
www.PhilipBrownFuneralHome.com.