Obituary of Michael J. Orapello

Michael Joseph Orapello, passed away peacefully at home after a long illness. Michael was born in Shanghai, China on March 25, 1931 and was the only child of Anna Marie Orapello and Joseph Orapello. He arrived in the United States in August 1947 and lived in China during the Japanese occupation. He attended several schools in Shanghai including Saint Francis Xavier and Shanghai American School He graduated from Saint Mary's Institute in Amsterdam in 1949. Michael enlisted in the United States Navy in 1949 and served until August 1953. He served with the Occupation Forces in Japan and during the Korean Conflict and attained the rating of Personnel Man Second Class. During his service, he met and married Jean (Junko) Ishino in Sasebo, Japan 1951. He graduated Cum Laude from Siena College in 1959. Michael was employed by Bendix Corporation in Teterboro, New Jersey, Matthew Bender Legal Publishers, Albany and General Electric Company, Schenectady from which he retired in March 1991. He graduated from General Electric Company's Financial Management Program in 1963 and held many accounting and financial analyst positions including Assistant Controller at Matthew Bender and Services Accounting Manager at General Electric Company. Michael was a member of the Navy League of the United States, American Legion Post 39, Veterans of Foreign Wars, US Navy Memorial Foundation, Siena College Alumni Association, Siena College Coach's Club, SMI Alumni Association, Shanghai American School Association, National Association of Accountants and GE's Quarter Century Club . Michael also served as the first President of Saint Michael's Church Parish Council, Trustee of Saint Michael's Church, Saint Michael's Church Religious Education Teacher, CYO Basketball Commissioner and on the Bishop Scully High School Bingo Committee, and was a member of St. Michael the Archangel and Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish. He enjoyed gardening and golfing, and was an avid NY Giants fan, Yankees fan, and Siena basketball fan. He is survived by his wife Jean, his children Anthony (Joyce) Orapello, Anne Scofield (Michael), grandchildren Sara Donlon (Kevin), Daniel Orapello, Thomas Scofield (Colleen) and Amy Leigh Waddell (David) and five great grand-children; Brian Donlon, Nathaniel Donlon Riley Donlon , Marcus Scofield and Sean Scofield. Michael wished to express his heartfelt gratitude and appreciation to Dr. Ingrid Rund and Dr. Walter Cummings for their friendship, support and care, and the family also wishes to express its thanks to the staffs at St Mary's and St. Peter's hospitals, Home Health Care Partners, and Community Hospice. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Tuesday February 14, 2017 at 11:15AM at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church, 39 St. John St., Amsterdam with Father Pascal "Pat" Iannotti as celebrant. Interment will follow in St. Michael the Archangel Cemetery, Amsterdam. The Family will receive relatives and friends on Monday February 13, 2017 from 4:00 to 7:00 PM at the Betz, Rossi & Bellinger Family Funeral Home, 171 Guy Park Ave, Amsterdam. Full US Navy Honors will be rendered following the Mass of Tuesday at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church. Donations can be made to Community Hospice of Amsterdam,246 Manny's Corners Rd., Amsterdam, NY 12010.