Filippo Coletta

Filippo "Phillip" Coletta, age 101, of North East, PA, passed away on Wednesday, June 4, 2025 following a brief illness at his home. He was born on March 30, 1924 in Erie, a son of the late Vincent and Katerina (Polestina) Coletta.

Phillip attended Academy High School where he received a Class A Machinist certification which he later used to mentor many. He then began his career at Marathon Electric, Erie Engine, an affiliate of Zurn Industries, which eventually led him to the many years of being a grape grower.

Phillip, alongside his wife Violet, designed and built his family home. This Coletta Homestead became the foundation for all future generations to gather. As family members visited through the many years, the memories made sitting under the maple tree in the front yard are legendary and will never be forgotten.

A couple of his long-time love interests included, wine-making with his children, grandchildren and close friends, as well as canning as many as 300 quarts of tomatoes every fall as he listened to the sound of Italian Opera while the aroma of sauce filled his family home.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his loving wife of 68 years, Yolanda "Violet" Ferrante Coletta; two daughters, Katherine Coletta Fetzner and Susan V. Coletta Dominic and her late husband Carl; and sisters, Gracie Freeman and Maryann McIntire.

He is survived by daughter, Jeannie M. DeLaura (Robert); son, Vincent P. Coletta (Audrey); son-in-law, Richard F. Fetzner; two brothers, Vincent Coletta and Samuel Coletta (Diane); and nine grandchildren, Angela Veshecco (Brian), Phillip Coletta (Alicia), Rick Fetzner (Laura), Michael Coletta (Dawn), Breanna Noon (Jim), Christie DeLaura, Vanessa Coletta, Justin DeLaura (Andrea), and Vincent Coletta (Michaela). He is also survived by 17 great-grandchildren, Kamron, Katalina, Dominic, Gianna, Lucas, Isla, Violet, Michael, Anthony, Harper, Sophia, Sienna, Conner, Louis, Leo, Giovanni, Enzo and many nieces and nephews.

Friends are invited to call on Sunday, June 8th, at the John R. Orlando Funeral Home, Inc., 2122 Raspberry Street, from 2:00 to 7:00 p.m. and may attend a service there on Monday at 9:30 a.m. followed by a Funeral Mass at Saint Paul Church, 1617 Walnut Street, at 10:00 a.m. Burial will be in Wintergreen Gorge Cemetery.