Aurelio Zottola

Aurelio Zottola, 86, of Riverside, passed away on Saturday, October 11, 2025 surrounded by his family. He was the loving husband of Margaret Patricia (McElroy) Zottola. Born in Itri, Italy, he was the son of the late Antonio Saccoccio and Concetta Zottola.

Aurelio started working at a young age on the family farm in Italy.

In 1961 he came to America where he met the love of his life at the Crescent Park Dance Hall a year later.

Aurelio worked multiple jobs concurrently to provide for his family. Among them he was employed by Brown and Sharpe as a machinist for 35 years, Tops Electric, and Lincoln Downs.

He was not only a dedicated father to his children but a father figure to many who knew him.

He was a jack of all trades — a true ‘MacGyver’ who could fix, build, or create just about anything.

He was a communicant of St. Brendan’s Parish in Riverside.

Alongside his wife, Margaret, he is survived by his beloved children, Antonio Michael Zottola (Monica) of Riverside, Ann Marie Breslin (Leonard Houlker) of Warwick, John Aurelio Zottola of Warwick, and Susan Patricia Yan (Phillip) of Seekonk, MA, and his grandchildren, Ryan Breslin, Holly Salisbury (Bryan), Phillip Yan Jr., and Keira Yan.

He was the brother of the late Francesco, Salvatore, Roberto, Marcello, and Amadeo Zottola, Maria Civita Mancini and Francina Saccoccio.

His Funeral will be held on Thursday, October 16, 2025 at 9:30AM from THE URQUHART-MURPHY FUNERAL HOME, 800 Greenwich Avenue, Warwick with a Mass of Christian Burial to be celebrated at 11:00AM at St. Brendan Church, 60 Turner Avenue, Riverside. Interment will follow at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in East Providence.

Visitation will be held at the Funeral Home on Wednesday, October 15, 2025 from 4:00PM-6:00PM.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to: Rhode Island Special Olympics, 370 George Washington Hwy, Smithfield, RI 02917.

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