Funeral today for Vella, key figure in AARP growth here

Family and friends gathered this morning to celebrate the life of Paul Vella Sr. at Holy Cross Catholic Church in Morgan City.

Vella passed away Wednesday morning.

He was known in the community for his service with St. Mary AARP Chapter 4435. The chapter was founded by Vella Aug. 8, 1988.

With Vella serving as president for 25 years, the chapter reached a membership surpassing 4,000 members. At that time, the chapter was recognized as the largest in the United States.

It is still recognized as one of the largest chapters nationwide, said St. Mary AARP Chapter 4435 President Bill Darce.

“It’s tragic to lose a man like that,” Darce said. “Paul was a man of wisdom.

“He enjoyed the AARP tremendously. He gave 25 years of his life to be the president and to establish the Morgan City chapter here in Morgan City.”

Other St. Mary AARP members shared in Darce’s sentiments.

“I admired his desire and passion to help people,” former board member of the St. Mary AARP chapter Joe Pizutto said. “No matter who you were or what you did, he just loved helping people.”

“He was a wonderful man and gave his life to AARP,” treasurer of the St. Mary AARP chapter AnnEtta Lombardo said.

In addition to his work with AARP, Vella was a manager at the Morgan City Municipal Auditorium for several years. He taught fifth-graders at Julia B. Maitland Elementary School for 11 years.

He worked as a park director for the Morgan City Recreation Department. He owned and operated the Shopper’s Weekly-St. Mary Journal for 20 years.

Vella also owned Vella’s Fans & Gifts for 10 years.

He was instrumental at Central Catholic for getting a gym and new school wing.

“Paul was a man of quality,” Darce said. “He had a sense of achieving anything he wanted.

“Not much you can say about Paul except that he was a quality guy, kind hearted, just a really good friend.”

Darce joined AARP when Vella had to be placed on dialysis. He asked Darce to join one day after church.

Darce gives Vella the credit for encouraging him to run for chapter president. He has known Vella all of his life.

“Paul wanted me to run and follow in his footsteps,” Darce said. “And I don’t plan on letting him down. I just have that much respect for the man. You can’t help but to like him. He was so full of life.”

After the funeral, Vella’s body was laid to rest at Morgan City Cemetery Mausoleum.