Obituary of Vincent J. Giordano

Vincent James Giordano, a lifelong resident of Yonkers who was an appliance repairman in lower Westchester for many years, died on Monday, July 4. He was 80. He overcame a lifetime of lung disease, and frequent hospitalizations since childhood, to work and raise a family in Westchester. Even in his last months, as he was facing problems breathing and suffering from other medical complications, he continued to do the occasional "call" for loyal customers. He also enjoyed having morning coffee with his friend, Nunzio Primarola, and playing the nickel slots at the Empire City Casino. He was a source of wisdom, guidance and love to his two children, six grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. Born in Yonkers on Sept. 21, 1930, he was one of eight children - seven sons and one daughter - born to Liborio Giordano and the former Mary Focarrazzo. After his mother died when he was 13, he was raised by his only sister, Marie, and, later, her husband, John Martel. He attended Yonkers schools and served in the Navy Reserves. He was lucky enough to meet the former Domenica (Mamie) Vulpone in 1951 and be embraced by her family as a son and brother. They married on April 25, 1954. He worked at a variety of jobs, including at Otis Elevator, and for several months in 1965 owned a pizza restaurant on Elm Street in Yonkers with his brother, Lee. But for most of his life he owned and operated Giordano Appliance Service. He was pre-deceased by five of his brothers: Andrew, Joseph, Vito (Billy), Rosario (Ray) and Robert. He is survived by his wife, Mamie, as well as his son, Vincent James Giordano Jr., and daughter-in-law, Debbie (Mazza) Giordano of Ardsley; his daughter, Mary Ann Giordano Wallis, and his son-in-law, Robert Wallis, of Briarcliff Manor; and six grandchildren: Matthew, Lindsay and Christopher Giordano and Kate, Samuel and John Wallis. He is also survived by his sister and brother-in-law, Marie and John Martel, of Pembroke Pines, Fla.; his brother, Lee, of Yonkers; his sisters-in-law, Grace Prunella and Antoinette Barbarita of Yonkers; his brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Joe and Pat Vulpone of Hastings-on-Hudson; and numerous nieces and nephews. Through his illnesses, he was well cared-for by Dr. Elliot Rosch and, before him, by Dr. Paul Rosch and Pete Reynolds, P.A. Viewing will take place on Wednesday, July 6, at Sinatra Memorial Home, 601 Yonkers Avenue, from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m., and a funeral mass will be held on Thursday, July 7, at 10:00 a.m., at St. Bartholomew's Roman Catholic Church, 15 Palmer Road (at Saw Mill River Road), Yonkers, followed by interment at the Ferncliff Mausoleum in Hartsdale. In lieu of flowers or gifts, donations may be made in his memory, in support of the life-saving work of the Yonkers Firefighters, to the Patrick Joyce Memorial Fund (info@patjoyce.org or c/o Debbie Joyce-Barnes, 79 Commander Black Drive, Oradell, NJ 07649). Poppi was deeply loved and will be deeply missed.