John A. Orvis

John A. Orvis, 91, of New Britain, reunited with his late wife, Anna (Salonia) Orvis, after passing away unexpectedly at home on Friday, Dec. 26, 2014. After passing away only three short months after Anna, they will be very happy to once again be together. Born in Plainville, he was the son of the late Charles William Orvis and Clara (Murphy) Orvis. He was a New Britain resident since 1947 and was a U.S. Marine Veteran of World War II. John was formerly employed as a letter carrier for the United States Postal Service. He was a past president and secretary of the New Britain Chapter of the National Association of Letter Carriers. John was a hard-working, honest man with the patience of a saint. His love of nature was evident in his garden, where he took much pride in his vegetables, specifically his tomatoes. He also enjoyed fishing and spending time outdoors. He had a passion for solving crossword puzzles and was an expert at answering Jeopardy questions. Surviving are a daughter, Angela Colossale and her husband Carmen of Kensington; three sons, John J. Orvis and his wife Dianna of Newington, Robert A. Orvis of North Carolina, and Thomas J. Orvis of Plainville; five grandchildren, Anthony, Joseph and Jaclyn Colossale; Adam Orvis, and Andrea Holden and her husband Ed; three great-grandchildren; Anna, Lucy and Ian Holden, and many nieces and nephews. John was predeceased by a brother, William Orvis and two sisters, Jane Orvis and Nancy Anderson. He was also predeceased by his special dog Rocky, a shephard mix, that was by his side for many years. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday at 11 AM at Erickson-Hansen Funeral Home, 411 So. Main St., New Britain. Burial will be in St. Mary Cemetery. A calling hour will be Tuesday from 10 AM until the time of the service. Memorial donations may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or to the CT Humane Society, 701 Russell Rd. Newington, CT 06111.