Obituary for Rev. Dominic Valla
SOUTHBURY: Reverend Dominic J. Valla, “Father Dom”, age 86 of Southbury, former Pastor of St. Thomas the Apostle Roman Catholic Church, Oxford, entered peaceful rest on Monday, January 30, 2023 in Bridgeport, CT. Fr. Dominic was born January 18, 1937 in New Haven, son of the late Joseph and Elizabeth (Cusano) Valla.
Fr. Valla was retired as Pastor of St. Thomas the Apostle Church, where he served as Pastor for 27 years until his retirement in 2017. Prior to that, he served at various assignments within the Archdiocese of Hartford, including Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Waterbury, St. Bernard Church in Enfield, and Our Lady of Victory Church in West Haven. Fr. Valla also ministered for a time as Chaplain at Yale New Haven Hospital
Fr. Dom earned his Masters of Religious Studies from Louvain University – American College in Belgium, and was ordained there on June 29, 1963. In addition to his love of serving as Pastor, Fr. Dom also enjoyed singing, playing golf, and was an avid NY Yankees fan. To all who knew him, he delighted in sharing a good joke.
Fr. Dom leaves his loving family, including his siblings, Robert Valla (Nancy) of Wallingford, Joseph Valla (Carol) of Hamden, and Sister Dominic Joseph Valla of Hamden; beloved niece, Kristen White (Dean) of North Haven; cherished great niece and nephew, Hannah and Connor White, as well as numerous parishioners and friends he came to know during his days at the many parishes he devoutly served at.
Fr. Valla will lie in state at St. Thomas the Apostle Church, 733 Oxford Rd., Oxford, CT 06478 on Wednesday, February 8, 2023 from 9am to 10:45am. Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 11am in St. Thomas the Apostle Church. Private burial in St. Lawrence Cemetery, West Haven, will be held at the convenience of the family. Memorial donations in Fr. Dom’s name can be made to ALSAC/St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Pl., Memphis, TN 38105. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Ralph E. Hull FH, 161 W. Church St., Seymour, CT 06483. For more information or to leave an online condolence, please visit us at www.hullfh.com
Fr. Valla was retired as Pastor of St. Thomas the Apostle Church, where he served as Pastor for 27 years until his retirement in 2017. Prior to that, he served at various assignments within the Archdiocese of Hartford, including Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Waterbury, St. Bernard Church in Enfield, and Our Lady of Victory Church in West Haven. Fr. Valla also ministered for a time as Chaplain at Yale New Haven Hospital
Fr. Dom earned his Masters of Religious Studies from Louvain University – American College in Belgium, and was ordained there on June 29, 1963. In addition to his love of serving as Pastor, Fr. Dom also enjoyed singing, playing golf, and was an avid NY Yankees fan. To all who knew him, he delighted in sharing a good joke.
Fr. Dom leaves his loving family, including his siblings, Robert Valla (Nancy) of Wallingford, Joseph Valla (Carol) of Hamden, and Sister Dominic Joseph Valla of Hamden; beloved niece, Kristen White (Dean) of North Haven; cherished great niece and nephew, Hannah and Connor White, as well as numerous parishioners and friends he came to know during his days at the many parishes he devoutly served at.
Fr. Valla will lie in state at St. Thomas the Apostle Church, 733 Oxford Rd., Oxford, CT 06478 on Wednesday, February 8, 2023 from 9am to 10:45am. Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 11am in St. Thomas the Apostle Church. Private burial in St. Lawrence Cemetery, West Haven, will be held at the convenience of the family. Memorial donations in Fr. Dom’s name can be made to ALSAC/St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Pl., Memphis, TN 38105. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Ralph E. Hull FH, 161 W. Church St., Seymour, CT 06483. For more information or to leave an online condolence, please visit us at www.hullfh.com