Angelo Colletti, Jr.

Angelo Colletti, Jr.

Angelo Colletti, Jr., 84, of Bevil Oaks died Thursday, December 8, 2016, at The Oaks of Beaumont. He is survived by his children, Chris Colletti and his wife, Colleen, and Donna Colletti Williams; grandchildren, Megan Williams, Mycah Williams,  Manda Williams Reese and her husband, Tyler, Hannah Colletti, Carina Colletti, Aaron Colletti; and one great-grandchild, Lyla Reese; brother, Jay Colletti and his wife, Linda, of Crandall, Texas; sister, Rosemary Colletti Herring and her husband, Bill, of Vidor; sisters-in-law, Cathy Colletti of Lumberton, Diana Jacobs and her husband, Charles, of Buna; and ten nieces and nephews.

Angelo is preceded in death by his wife of 58 years, LaVerne Bean Colletti; brothers, Nicholas Jay Colletti and Tony Colletti, Sr.; and parents, Angelo Colletti, Sr. and Rose Culotta Colletti.

He was born October 21, 1932, in Jeanerette, Louisiana, and was raised with grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. Many of his cousins were double 1st cousins because two Culotta sisters married two Colletti brothers.

In 1953, he was drafted into the United States Army where he became a Private 1st Class. He gladly served his country even though his brother had been killed during World War II. He was proud of his family and their American dream, proud of their family business; he was proud of his Italian heritage and proud to be an American.

In 1952, his mother moved from Louisiana to Beaumont where she built the Cedar Motel. When Angie, as he was called in Texas, returned from the Army, he followed his mother and siblings to Beaumont to help run the motel for many years.  In April of 1958, while at the local hang out, The Pig Stand, he met his future wife, LaVerne Bean. After six short weeks, they were married. In March of 1959 they had their first child, Donna, which according to LaVerne, “changed his life”. In August of 1962 they had a son, Chris.

Through the years Angie worked different jobs, but the occupation he enjoyed most was driving 18 wheelers. He started at the early age of 14 in the sugar cane fields of southern Louisiana. It was during his truck driving years that he earned the nickname, Puppy Dog. Throughout his life he answered to several names and nicknames: Angie, Junior, June, Uncle Angie, Uncle June, Daddy, Puppy Dog and Paw-Paw.

Angie was a people person that loved a good cup of coffee, a good meal and good fellowship. He loved to tell stories and never let true facts get in the way of an entertaining story. He enjoyed traveling and camping in his RV with family and friends, playing his piano, and tinkering around in his workshop. He had a tool for every job and since one was not sufficient he had at least three of everything. He was proud of his names which he wrote on everything. If he couldn’t write it he either had in embroidered, engraved or scratched on all his stuff. And it didn’t stop there, if something he owned didn’t have his name on it, it had a label. He would embellish his labels like his stories, evidenced by a new truck suddenly becoming a 4x4 with the addition of a single sticker. Everyone loved his smile, infectious laugh, hugs and his inner light was contagious. 

Angie was a faithful member of Cathedral in the Pines for decades and loved his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

A gathering of Mr. Colletti’s family and friends will begin at 4:00 p.m. with his funeral service to follow at 6:00 p.m., Monday, December 12, 2016, at Christian Fellowship Worship Center, 3950 Pointe Parkway,  Beaumont, under the direction of Broussard’s, 1605 North Major Drive, Beaumont. A graveside service will be held at 10:00 a.m., December 13, 2016, Kirbyville Cemetery, Kirbyville.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Christian Fellowship Worship Center Eldercare Program, 3950 Pointe Parkway, Beaumont, Texas 77706.