Obituary for George Joseph Arditi
George Joseph Arditi, 85 of Yonkers, NY, died peacefully on January 15, 2022. George is survived by his wife of almost 55 years, Mary (Bruno) Arditi, his children Susan Arditi Adams (Edward), George, John, Chris, Laura, Jessica Collins (William), Brian (Maureen), Kristen Hernandez (Jossua), 13 grandchildren, his brother Anthony (Valerie), sister-in-law Barbara and sister-in-law and brother-in-law Elizabeth and Richard. He is predeceased by his parents Gino and Felicia (Matrone) and his brother Curtis.
George was born on March 19, 1936 in Bronx, NY, the eldest of three boys. George grew-up between La Spezia, Italy and Yonkers, NY. He spent time with his close friends Bernie and Alfredo, as well as his brothers. They spent time tinkering with cars and working with his dad from an early age. He graduated from Roosevelt High School in Yonkers and enlisted in the Army where he ranked as a PFC and had the military role of Chaplain’s Assistant.
George’s faith was very important to him. Upon leaving the military, he joined the order of Trappist Monks at St. Joseph’s Abbey in Spencer, MA. After a bit of time as a monk, he determined that the monastery life was no longer his calling at which time George went to Columbia University in NYC to pursue a degree in Theology. He later transferred to Iona College in New Rochelle where he received his Bachelor’s in Philosophy in 1964. During his time in college, George, an avid reader would teach himself how to do general contracting jobs to help support the cost of college. This was the beginning of his contracting business which kept him self-employed for nearly 60 years. He also earned his EMT certification and worked a side job for years on the Ambulance Corps in the Lower Westchester area.
After college he met the love of his life, Mary, on a blind date. They dated for ten months “long-distance” from Yonkers to Mary’s home in Darien, CT until he proposed on Christmas Eve 1966 at midnight mass. They wed later that year on May 6, 1967. Being faithful to the Catholic religion, they became parents to 8 children within 17 years. Four boys and four girls in total.
George took pride in his family and liked to travel with them whenever possible, usually via motorhome or camping in the formative years and later he and Mary saw a good deal of the world on board many cruises. George loved the water, fishing and was a verrucous reader, reading about faith and homeopathic cancer cures. George enjoyed spending summertime at the shore nearby most of his children. George was also active in his church parish, Annunciation. For many years he volunteered as a catechist for CCD, was part of the Nocturnal Adoration Society and helped rebuild the tabernacle for his church.
In his career, he was known for utilizing unorthodox ways to achieve goals. He would use his ingenuity and creative skills to construct and complete projects for his customers and rarely shied away from a challenge. He was also strongly committed to helping people through his work and was committed to “die with his boots on” and never retire. George did indeed work up until a couple of months ago.
George was a passionate, intellectual and determined person who followed natural remedies and could be stubborn but had a steadfast commitment to his beliefs. He was robustly faithful to his religion and was very committed to helping others. For years, he used to take his children and then his grandchildren to the South Bronx to help the Little Sisters of the Poor feed those who needed help both out of their soup kitchen and through grassroots outreach in the South Bronx neighborhoods.
Relatives and friends are invited to visit with George’s family for his wake at Westchester Funeral Home in Eastchester on Saturday, January 22, 6-8pm and Sunday, January 23, 2–6pm. Facemasks are mandatory. The Roman Catholic funeral mass is Monday, January 24 at Annunciation Church in Yonkers at 11am. Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in George’s name to Little Sisters of the Poor in Bronx, NY, https://www.littlesistersofthepoorbronx.org/donate/ or to www.Smiletrain.org.
George was born on March 19, 1936 in Bronx, NY, the eldest of three boys. George grew-up between La Spezia, Italy and Yonkers, NY. He spent time with his close friends Bernie and Alfredo, as well as his brothers. They spent time tinkering with cars and working with his dad from an early age. He graduated from Roosevelt High School in Yonkers and enlisted in the Army where he ranked as a PFC and had the military role of Chaplain’s Assistant.
George’s faith was very important to him. Upon leaving the military, he joined the order of Trappist Monks at St. Joseph’s Abbey in Spencer, MA. After a bit of time as a monk, he determined that the monastery life was no longer his calling at which time George went to Columbia University in NYC to pursue a degree in Theology. He later transferred to Iona College in New Rochelle where he received his Bachelor’s in Philosophy in 1964. During his time in college, George, an avid reader would teach himself how to do general contracting jobs to help support the cost of college. This was the beginning of his contracting business which kept him self-employed for nearly 60 years. He also earned his EMT certification and worked a side job for years on the Ambulance Corps in the Lower Westchester area.
After college he met the love of his life, Mary, on a blind date. They dated for ten months “long-distance” from Yonkers to Mary’s home in Darien, CT until he proposed on Christmas Eve 1966 at midnight mass. They wed later that year on May 6, 1967. Being faithful to the Catholic religion, they became parents to 8 children within 17 years. Four boys and four girls in total.
George took pride in his family and liked to travel with them whenever possible, usually via motorhome or camping in the formative years and later he and Mary saw a good deal of the world on board many cruises. George loved the water, fishing and was a verrucous reader, reading about faith and homeopathic cancer cures. George enjoyed spending summertime at the shore nearby most of his children. George was also active in his church parish, Annunciation. For many years he volunteered as a catechist for CCD, was part of the Nocturnal Adoration Society and helped rebuild the tabernacle for his church.
In his career, he was known for utilizing unorthodox ways to achieve goals. He would use his ingenuity and creative skills to construct and complete projects for his customers and rarely shied away from a challenge. He was also strongly committed to helping people through his work and was committed to “die with his boots on” and never retire. George did indeed work up until a couple of months ago.
George was a passionate, intellectual and determined person who followed natural remedies and could be stubborn but had a steadfast commitment to his beliefs. He was robustly faithful to his religion and was very committed to helping others. For years, he used to take his children and then his grandchildren to the South Bronx to help the Little Sisters of the Poor feed those who needed help both out of their soup kitchen and through grassroots outreach in the South Bronx neighborhoods.
Relatives and friends are invited to visit with George’s family for his wake at Westchester Funeral Home in Eastchester on Saturday, January 22, 6-8pm and Sunday, January 23, 2–6pm. Facemasks are mandatory. The Roman Catholic funeral mass is Monday, January 24 at Annunciation Church in Yonkers at 11am. Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in George’s name to Little Sisters of the Poor in Bronx, NY, https://www.littlesistersofthepoorbronx.org/donate/ or to www.Smiletrain.org.