Benny Christolini passed away peacefully on Feb. 23, surrounded by his family at the age of 93 after a sudden and brief illness. Benny was born in Bristol on May 12, 1929, to the late Louis and Clorinda (Scaramuzza) Christolini and attended Bristol Public Schools, graduating from Bristol High School in 1947.
He is survived by his devoted wife, Shirley (Parlow) Christolini, with whom he shared 67 years of marriage. He retired from the S. Carpenter Construction Company in 1991 after over 30 years of employment.
He took great pride in his family and is survived by his son Ben and his wife Teresa (Byington), daughter Karen and her husband Matt Hintz, and son John and his wife Kate (Sullivan). He was predeceased by his daughter Linda and her husband Dr. Robert Chamberlain.
Benny was blessed with 10 grandchildren: Dr. Amy Chamberlain Scribner and husband Nate, Nicolas Chamberlain, Kathryn Chamberlain Moore and husband Jake, Sarah Christolini and husband Sam L’Ecuyer, Jill Christolini, Douglas Christolini, Dr. Molly Hintz and husband Brian Urbach, Ben Hintz, Emma Christolini, and Julia Christolini.
He was also fortunate to enjoy eight great-grandchildren: Jack and Ella Scribner, Quinn, Ryan, Henry and Norah Grace Moore, and Marie Rose and Cecelia Christolini.
Benny was a proud U.S. Army Veteran who served bravely under challenging circumstances in Korea during the Korean War. He loved a good trip to Mohegan Sun Casino with his family, and was fiercely independent, shoveling his own snow and mowing his lush, green lawn until his death.
The family would like to thank Michelle Berry and the hospice staff at Bristol Hospital for their compassionate care.
Calling hours will be held on Friday, March 3, from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. at O’Brien Funeral Home, 24 Lincoln Ave., Bristol. A Memorial Mass will be held on Saturday, March 4, at 10 a.m. directly at St. Francis de Sales Church, 111 School St., Bristol. Burial and military honors will follow at St. Joseph Cemetery, Bristol.
Memorial donations may be made to Bristol Veterans Strong Community Center Inc., https://www.vetstronginc.org/donate.
To leave an online message of condolence, share a memory or a photo, please visit Benny’s tribute page at www.OBrien-FuneralHome.com.
All TBE readers, supporters and donors
The Bristol Edition will be limiting the number of stories non-members and free readers may access each week. This decision is based on our financial projections and, most certainly, to remind people that TBE is serious about providing accurate, timely and thorough reporting for Bristol. To do this we have devised a financial support structure that makes unlimited access extremely affordable, beginning with a $6 monthly donation.
- Non-members will be able to access four (4) articles per week.
- Free readers and people who have subscribed by email will be able to access four (4) articles per week.
- Donors and financial supporters will have unlimited access as long as they log in.
Note: Donors may have to contact TBE if they find they are being limited, since we will need to set up a membership account for you. Email editor@bristoledition.org for instructions. Sorry for any inconvenience. People with financial difficulties may write editor@bristoledition.org to be considered for free access.