Mr. Michael J. Mezzanini, Jr., 82, a faithful and loyal servant of Our Lord Jesus Christ and of our country, entered into eternal life on Memorial Day, May 26, 2008, surrounded by his loving and devoted family. He was born and educated in Utica, the son of Michael and Celeste Fusco Mezzanini. On September 10, 1949, he married Anna Marie Leone in St. Mary of Mount Carmel Church, a blessed and deeply devotional marriage of 59 years. Mike was a meat cutter and worked diligently at his trade for the Acme Markets for 29 years and later at the Marcy Food Center. He served his country in World War II as a Seaman First Class in what was known at that time as the Navy Air Force. He was proud to have participated in the Oneida County World War II Memorial trip to Washington, D.C., from May 30, 2007, to June 1, 2007. His passing on Memorial Day was fitting and appropriate for a man who was so proud to be a veteran. Mike was a "family man" deeply devoted to his wife, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. His family remembers when he worked with his grandsons, Michael and Vincent, to build race cars for their soap box derby, his passion for showing off his late father's 1956 Oldsmobile at antique shows in Oneida and Herkimer Counties, the fishing trips with his grandsons, and his love for rappi and mushroom picking with his nephew Joe Teti. In his younger years, Mike was a feather weight boxer in the military and he participated in boxing exhibitions at the old Rhoades Hospital. Mike was a very spiritual man and in his capacity as a Eucharistic Minister for the past 10 years, he distributed the Holy Eucharist to the home bound, at mass and at the Loretto Home. He was a proud member of Meat Cutters Union Local One, the American Legion Post 1290, Our Lady of Mount Carmel Society and a former member of the Holy Name Society. Mike is survived by his loving wife, Anna Marie; his son and daughter-in-law, Michael, III, (retired U.P.D.) and Mary Teresa Mezzanini; two daughters, Mary Louise Mezzanini and Anna Marie Ollerenshaw, all of Utica; two sisters, Antoinette Volpe, Mechanicsville, and Celeste and Larry Hurst, Indiana; his in-laws, Theresa Mezzanini, Utica, Frank and Mary Leone, FL, Rose Mattia, Rome, Anne Leone, Tina Leone, Robert and Eleanor Leone, and Carmelina Ziobro, all of Utica; and his beloved grandchildren, Danielle and Joseph Marino, Michael Mezzanini, IV, Andrea Ollerenshaw and John Cappelli, and Vincent Mezzanini. Mike was always happy to see his three great-grandchildren, Giavanna Alberico Mezzanini and the "twins", Anthony Michael and Joseph Anthony Marino. He is also survived by many loving nieces and nephews. Mike was predeceased by two sisters, Mary Teti and Ida Scalzo, and three brothers, Frank, Vincent and Joseph Mezzanini. The Mezzanini family is very grateful to Dr. Razia and staff and his primary care physician Dr. O'Malley for the professional and compassionate care they provided to Mike and to Hospice & Palliative Care, especially Navaz and Nadine. Mike and his wife were very fortunate to have numerous visits by many of the clergy throughout his illness. Their Pastor John Rose provided great spiritual strength at a time when they needed it the most, along with Father Joseph Salerno, Father Tom Servatius, Monsignor Ronald Bill, Deacon Bob Riggalls, Sister Lois and Sister Elizabeth, Mike and Joann Dziura, and Kathy Mosca for praying The Divine Mercy with Mike and Ann. Mike's funeral will be held on Friday, May 30, 2008, at 11:00 a.m. from the Bentz & Amodio Funeral Service, Inc., 470 French Rd., Utica/New Hartford, and at 12:00 noon at St. Mary of Mount Carmel/Blessed Sacrament Church, where his Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated. Private entombment will be at Calvary Mausoleum. Calling hours for family and friends are Thursday, May 29, 2008, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the funeral home. The American Legion Post 1290 will conduct ritualistic services at the funeral home at 6:30 p.m.