On Friday, March 3, William "Bill" Joseph Wresilo, a beloved father, passed away.  He was eighty-four years old.  Born to Stephanie and Kazimierz Wresilo in Wola Luzanska, Poland in 1938.  He spent the first years of his life in Germany during World War II.  When he was ten years of age, he emigrated to the United States of America through New York.  His maternal grandfather was supposed to pick his family up from Ellis Island, but they couldn't find him after they were processed.  It was snowing and cold, and a local family took pity on them and bought them a meal in a restaurant, and by pure chance, my great-grandfather found them in the restaurant and took them to his home in Fall River, Massachusetts.  (There was so much wonder in his voice as he would tell this story.  He would describe what it was like to see the Statue of Liberty, how tall the buildings were, how he ate in a "real" restaurant, how good ice cream tasted, and how happy he was to see his great-grandfather (whom he had a great admiration for, for the remainder of his life)!

Bill described himself as a mischievous youth.  One day while he was walking to school, he lit a firecracker.  He didn't see the nun from his school fast approaching him until it was too late.  He wrapped his hand around the firecracker and put his hand into his pants pocket for fear that the nun would punish him.  He wasn't caught, but he did blow a hole through his pants.  He doesn't even remember if his hand hurt as he greatly feared the nun's punishment.

He joined the United States Air Force in 1955 one day after his birthday.  He married, and is survived by, Natalie Dulak, and six of their five children:  Billy Wresilo, his wife Doreen, Greg Wresilo, his ex-wife Michele, Kathie Carfora, her husband Dino, Chrissy Ferrante, her husband Dominic, and Suzy Wresilo.  Their son John was born premature and sadly did not survive.  They have fifteen beautiful grandchildren and two even more beautiful great-grandchildren. Bill is also survived by his brother Casimir Wresilo, and his daughter with his late wife M. Halina, Cassandra; and, his late sister Josephine and her late husband John Ortowski's children Maryanne Huffman, and Mark Ortowski, and their children.

He completed training requirements in the State of Florida Guardian Ad Litem Program to represent the best interest of abused and neglected children in judicial court proceedings.  He also mentored children in the R.W. Blake Academy located in Lakeland, Florida.

Bill was best known for his love of the warmth of the sun, cigarettes, sports, reading, and music.  A few of his favorites include Roy Orbison, Linda Rondstadt and Andrea Bocelli, as well as various violin concertos, and string symphonies.  He loved his family dearly; and was especially devoted to his grandchild, Christopher.

There will be a "celebration of life" mass at Nichols United Methodist Church located at 35 Shelton Road, Trumbull, Connecticut on Saturday, the 18th of March, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. followed by a reception at the hall underneath Saint Mary's Ukranian Orthodox Church located at 10 Oakwood Street, Bridgeport, Connecticut.  In lieu of giving flowers, the family asks that those who are able instead make a donation to Alzheimer's in his name.