Alexander A. Gelmini

Alexander "Zig" A. Gelmini, 85, of Berlin, husband of Florence Pas Gelmini, died Monday, March 2, 2009 at the Hospital of Central Connecticut at New Britain General. Born in Berlin, he was the son of the late Luigi and Savina Centurelli Gelmini and was a life-long Berlin resident. Alexander was formerly employed at Fafnir Bearing Co. and later at Rogers Sash and Door for 25 years before retiring in 1988. He was a US Navy Veteran of World War II, and was a survivor of two sunken ships, the Julia Luchenbach and the Robin Tuxford. Alexander was a member of St. Paul Church, the VFW, and the Knights of Columbus 4th Degree In addition to his wife Florence, he is survived by a son, Alan Gelmini of Euless, TX; a daughter, Lorraine Carling and her husband Harry of Berlin; a sister, Mary Pelkey and her husband Bernard of Kensington; six grandchildren and their spouses, Lynn and Christopher Armstrong, Eric and Robbin Carling, Todd and Kristine Carling, Kevin and Rebecca Carling, Melisa Gelmini and Mark Gelmini; and seven great-grandchildren, Ryan, Parker, Payton, Bailey, Kyle, Melanie, and Alexis and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by a grandson Alan Gelmini Jr and his brothers, Anthony Gelmini, Joseph Gelmini, Louis Gelmini, Peter Centurelli and his sister Elizabeth Brassley. Funeral services will be held on Thursday at 9:00 AM at Erickson-Hansen Funeral Home, 411 So. Main St. New Britain followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 AM at St. Paul Church. Burial, with military honors, will be in St. Mary Cemetery. Calling hours are Wednesday from 5-8 PM at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, 538 Preston Ave., Meriden, CT 06450 or the American Heart Association, 1 Union St., Suite 301, Robbinsville, NJ 08691