James B. Dieli

James Biaggio Dieli, 90, of Kensington, passed away peacefully at home on April 28, 2026, surrounded by the family he loved so deeply. He was born in Waterbury on August 17, 1935, the son of the late James Salvatore Dieli and Joan (Pirre) Dieli.

He is survived by his beloved wife of 65 years, Maria G. Dieli (Fazio). He leaves behind his three children, James S. Dieli and his wife Lori A. Dieli (Wilcox), Anthony J. Dieli and his wife Jennifer L. Hauser, and Joanne D. Lombardo (Dieli) and her husband Paul S. Lombardo.

James was a proud grandfather to seven grandchildren, James E. Dieli, Alina M. Glendenning (Dieli), Avalon A. Dieli, Angelica E. Johnston (Dieli), Natalie M. Buck (Lombardo), Alyssa M. Shanahan (Dieli), and Jaclyn O. Lombardo. He was also blessed with eight great-grandchildren.

He was predeceased by his brothers, Dennis J. Dieli and John Dieli, and is survived by his brother, Emmanuel T. Dieli, his sisters, Annette Dieli and Janet Wilkinson, his brother in-law Angelo and his wife Anna Fazio, and sister in-law Rosina Fazio. He also leaves behind many cherished nieces, nephews, and cousins.

James graduated from Plainville High School in 1954 and proudly served in the United States Air Force from 1955 to 1959. He attended and later taught at the Paier School of Art and went on to enjoy a long career at Pratt & Whitney Aircraft, where he worked for 36 years before retiring.

He was a devoted member of the Knights of Columbus and served as Past President of the Kensington Art League, and was an active member of St. Paul's Church in Kensington where he and Maria made homemade pasta dinner for Italian Night. We all remember his acting in the St. Ann's Passion Play as King Herod.

James was deeply loved and admired by his family and friends. A talented painter, he had a lifelong passion for the arts, opera, travels around the world seeing places most people can only dream of, Italian cooking, cars, and aircraft. He especially enjoyed making homemade wine and pizza. Sunday dinners were full of love, laughter, and great food, as Jim would serenade everyone with Italian songs and Opera while gathered around the family table.

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, May 5, 2026 at 10:30 AM at Erickson-Hansen Funeral Home of Berlin, 111 Chamberlain Hwy., Berlin, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:30 AM at St. Paul Church in Kensington. Entombment will be in St. Mary Cemetery. Calling hours are Monday from 5-7 PM at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Artists for World Peace, P.O. Box 95, Middletown, CT 06457.