Charles Thomas Colletta

Charles Thomas Colletta, 88, of Nashua, well known musician and longtime business manager, passed away early Saturday morning, August 12, 2023 at the Community Hospice House in Merrimack, after a brief illness.

Born in Milford on February 19, 1935, he was the son of the late Charles and Mary (Reveane) Colletta. Charlie and his family moved to Nashua a few months after his birth and resided in the French Hill neighborhood. A graduate of Nashua High School Class of 1952, Charlie served with the Army from July 6 to December 20, 1957 and held the rank of Private 2nd Class.

Charlie began working as a teenager with the former Osgood’s Hardware Store and continued his career as manager for many years at Hammar Hardware at their Railroad Square location and then at the new store on Amherst Street. He later worked as general manager for Standard Hardware for many years, until his retirement.

A talented musician and band leader, Charlie played Clarinet and Saxophone with the American Legion Band and the 39th Army Band of the New Hampshire National Guard. He was the Drum major on Memorial Day and Veteran’s Day parades in Nashua for many years and also in some of the surrounding communities.

He was a communicant of St. Patrick Church and for many years and was a former longtime communicant and usher of St. Christopher Church.

Charlie married Doris R. Galipeau of Nashua on May 19, 1956. They enjoyed summers at Wells Beach, Maine for 30 years. The couple shared 60 wonderful years together until her passing on July 21, 2016.

In addition to his wife and parents, Charlie was predeceased by his sisters and brothers-in-law, Rita (Colletta) and John Dulgarian, Mary (Colletta) and Ralph T. “Ted” Dirubbo, and Bertrand Chouinard; and his nephew, Michael Dirubbo.

Members of his family include his son and daughter-in-law, Thomas C. and Susanne Colletta of Portsmouth; sister-in-law, Shirley (Galipeau) Chouinard of Wells, ME; nieces and nephews, Christopher A. Chouinard and his husband, Harold Rodriguez, Jonathan C. Chouinard and his wife Amy, Kathy (Dirubbo) Cronin and her husband Daniel, Tina (Dulgarian) Hagen, Gregory Dulgarian and Mark Dulgarian; and many grandnieces and grandnephews.

Calling hours will be held at the FARWELL FUNERAL HOME, 18 Lock Street, Nashua on Wednesday, August 16th from 4 to 7 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in St. Patrick Church, 29 Spring Street, Nashua, Thursday, August 17th at 9:30 a.m. Interment will follow at St. Patrick Cemetery in Hudson. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Community Hospice House, 7 Executive Park Drive, Merrimack, NH 03054. To leave an online message of condolence, please visit www.farwellfuneralservice.com.