Nicholas Morelli

May 12, 2018

NICHOLAS MORELLI WAS BORN TO GUILIANO AND LIVIA MORELLI, THE SEVENTH CHILD OF TEN IN PRE-WORLD WAR II NAPLES, ITALY. BEFORE THE AGE OF TEN HE BEGAN THE CHALLENGING JOURNEY OF SURVIVAL THAT DEVELOPED A CHARACTER OF ENDURANCE AND DISTINCTION THAT LED TO A HEART AND SOUL ENTHUSIASM FOR LIFE AND ITS GREATEST VIRTUES. AMERICAN SOLDIERS RESCUED HIM FROM THE UNDERGROUND AND HELPED HIM TO FIND HIS WAY BACK HOME TO HIS FAMILY. THIS IS THE CATALYST THAT GAVE BIRTH TO HIS DREAM TO COME TO AMERICA AND START A NEW LIFE, EVENTUALLY MAKING A PERSONAL COMMITMENT TO THE AMERICAN MILITARY AS AN ARMY SOLDIER AND OFFICER. HE HAD THREE CHILDREN WITH HIS FIRST WIFE, ANNETTA: KAREN, JENNIFER AND KENNETH AND PURSUED HIS BACHELOR'S AND MULTIPLE MASTER'S DEGREES IN SOCIAL WORK AND CHILD PSYCHOLOGY. HIS WORK AS A MEDICAL PROFICIENCY OFFICER ENABLED HIM TO HELP COUNTLESS SOLDIERS AND CHILDREN THROUGHOUT HIS MILITARY CAREER UNTIL HIS RETIREMENT IN 1986. HE MOVED TO RHODE ISLAND AND BEGAN HIS CIVILIAN CAREER AS MEDICAL DIRECTOR AT DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS IN CRANSTON. THIS IS WHERE HE MET HIS BELOVED WIFE, SHARON MCMANN MORELLI. HE LATER WORKED IN THE CHILD PSYCHOLOGY UNIT AT NEWPORT NAVAL BASE AND THEN VARIOUS FACILITIES, ALWAYS IN PURSUIT OF HELPING CHILDREN WITH VARIOUS NEEDS. HE WAS ZEALOUS AND PASSIONATE IN THIS ENDEAVOR. HE WAS COURAGEOUS IN HIS LONG BATTLE WITH CANCER, PRIVATE AND DIGNIFIED, HE SUFFERED THROUGH HIS PAIN IN SOLITUDE, NOT WANTING TO BURDEN HIS LOVED ONES. HE FREQUENTLY SPOKE OF THE COMPASSIONATE CARE THAT HE RECEIVED FROM HIS VA DOCTORS, ESPECIALLY DR. QUINN, FOR WHOM HE HAD THE UTMOST RESPECT AND ADMIRATION. IN ADDITION, NICHOLAS RECEIVED A HOSPICE NURSE THAT CAME TO HIM IN THE FORM OF AN ANGEL – MELISSA WAS A GODSEND AND SPENT MANY HOURS PROVIDING CARE AND COMFORT TO NICHOLAS AND SHARON WHICH EVENTUALLY LED TO A PEACEFUL END. WE THANK GOD FOR HIS PROVIDENCE IN THE DETAILS AND EVENTS OF NICHOLAS' LIFE, HUSBAND, FATHER AND GRANDFATHER. HE WAS OUR NICKY, PAPA, DADDY AND NONNO, AND HIS FAMILY ADORED HIM. HE LOVED LIFE AND HAS PASSED ON HIS PASSION FOR SINGING ITALIAN SONGS AT THE TOP OF HIS VOICE, TENDING TO HIS GARDEN BUT FOREMOST HIS TENDER CARE FOR THOSE THAT HE LOVED. Visitation will be held on Thursday May 17th from 5-7PM in the Winfield and Son's Funeral Home, 571 West Greenville Rd., Scituate. A graveside service will be Friday May 18th at 11AM at Resurrection Cemetery, 259 W. Wrentham Rd., Cumberland.