Carmine Festa

Carmine Philip Festa, 94, a longtime Bound Brook resident, died July 1, 2014, at the Home of the Good Shepherd Assisted Living Residence, Malta, New York. Born November 7, 1919, in Carbondale, Pennsylvania, he was one of eleven children of Pasquale and Columbia [Malara] Festa. He graduated from Carbondale High School, Class of 1937, and started work at American Cyanamid Company, Bound Brook, as a "lead burner" in 1941. Carmine enlisted in the Army in 1942, receiving an Officer Candidate School commission in 1943. During World War II, he served as an infantry platoon leader with the 329th Regiment, 83rd Infantry Division. Wounded in Normandy, France, in July, 1944, he returned to combat in August. He was wounded again and more seriously in Belgium in December 1944 (Ardennes Offensive/Battle of the Bulge). He was awarded a Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Combat Infantry Badge, and numerous campaign ribbons and battle stars. After long hospital stays in England and Staten Island, he retired as a Captain in 1947. Carmine married Emma K. Tyler of Waymart, Pennsylvania, on June 24, 1946. They shared more than fifty-two years of marriage. After military service, he returned to American Cyanamid, where he held various administrative positions including Office Manager and Treasurer of the Calco Federal Credit Union, Payroll Supervisor, and in the Compensation Services and Salary Administration areas, retiring in 1980. In retirement, Carmine and Emma enjoyed the monthly Bound Brook Seniors trips to Atlantic City, their summer camp in Pennsylvania, and winter trips to Siesta Key, Florida. He moved to the Saratoga area of New York in 2009, and was a resident of Coburg Village, Clifton Park, until 2013. Carmine was predeceased by his wife in 1998, and his sisters, Anna Gattuso and Margaret Bonacci. He is survived by his son, Patrick (Helen) Festa of Halfmoon, New York; his daughters, Gayle (John) Russell of Punta Gorda, Florida, Karen Festa of Deerfield, New Hampshire; his grandchildren, Matthew (Elizabeth) Festa of Houston, Texas, Thomas (Casey) Festa of Melrose, New York, James (Heather) Festa of Essex, Vermont, Shauna (Jeffrey) Fisher of Santee, California, Lauren Festa of Deerfield, New Hampshire Emily Festa of Deerfield, New Hampshire; his beloved great grandchildren, Natalie, Owen, Daniel, Jonathan and Joseph Festa, Riley Fisher; his sisters, Bridget Wilson of Smithville, Caroline DiAuria of Brecksville, Ohio, Joan Staffaroni of Stratford, Connecticut, Rosemary Juliano of Saugerties, New York, Mamie Leotti of Melborne, Florida, and many nieces and nephews. Visiting hours will be 10:00 - 11:00 A.M. Monday, July 7, at Hagan - Chamberlain Funeral Home, 225 Mountain Ave, Bound Brook, followed by an 11:30 A.M. Funeral Mass at St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church, Bound Brook. Interment with military honors will be held in Bound Brook Cemetery. Memorial contributions in Carmine’s memory may be made to Community Hospice of Saratoga, 179 Lawrence Street, Saratoga Springs, New York 12866 or to the Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758517, Topeka, Kansas 66675.