Obituary of Michael Joseph Volo

LITTLE FALLS - Michael Joseph Volo, age 74, passed away unexpectedly on Thursday, August 12th at the Little Falls Hospital. He was born in Little Falls on November 16, 1946, the son of Leborde (Nebo) and Neva (DiChristina) Volo. Michael grew up on West Main Street in Little Falls and attended the Church Street School and St. Mary’s Academy. At age 17, on November 22nd, 1963, Michael enlisted in the U.S. Marines, went to Parris Island, SC for Basic Training and Camp LeJeune, SC for Service School. Michael was on active duty for 6 years, which included two 13-month tours to Vietnam. He attained the rank of Platoon Sergeant in 1966, while with the 3rd Battalion, 9th Marines. He was honorably discharged on Nov. 28, 1969. Upon his return to Little Falls, Michael married his home-town sweetheart, Marie Raiello. Their union produced two sons, Kevin, and Christopher. Michael was employed at ColorPrint, Univac, and by various construction firms building HCCC, BOCES, the Utica Auditorium and Riverside Mall. Michael created the Mike Volo Construction company which worked on the Little Falls Sewage Treatment Plant, Benton Hall, Mohawk Valley Arts at the Masonic Temple, St. Nicholas Ukrainian Church, and the Dolgeville Lanes. Michael had also built houses, barrooms (Mike’s Lounge I and II, and East End Steak House), and Ann Street Deli. Michael loved making things with wood. If the wood was cracked or had worm holes, Mike used these qualities to make perfect pieces of furniture, frames, jewelry boxes, clocks, bird houses, bowls, and many decorative plaques on his CNC machine for woodworking. He built his own CNC machine at one time. He even made wooden urns when requested. He loved wood and knew every piece he was handling, treating each piece like it was gold. He was building a Back Altar for the St. Joseph Church in Dolgeville, which was close to completion, but unfortunately was not finished. Michael had only completed the 8th grade in public school, so he obtained his High School Equivalency Diploma in September 1991. He then enrolled in HCCC, was on the Dean’s and President’s Lists, graduating with an AAS Degree in Human Services in May 1993. He earned his BA Degree from SUNY IT in December of 1994. He completed these degrees while working full-time as a resident counselor at HARC. He also worked at Catholic Charities as an alcohol/drug counselor. Michael then took several computer courses through BOCES and completed 90 hours in CISCO Network Training in June 2001. He was employed at one time by Mor Tech Services, diagnosing and repairing computers, as well as, Griffiss Air Force Base for several years, until his retirement. Michael was very interested in computer technology and could fix anything. Michael’s second marriage was to Christine (Dodie) DeLucco on 3/24/79. They had opened Mike’s Lounge on East Main Street in 1976. Later, they opened and operated the Ann Street Deli. Michael also did much renovation on their home at 205 Fincks Basin Road, Little Falls; and he built a large woodworking shop in their barn. He enjoyed gardening and planting trees on his property, which included apples, grapes, figs, and butternuts. He also created a vegetable grow room in the barn and learned how to pollinate the plants by hand. Mike and Dodie rescued many cats in the Basin, and through the years had several dogs and cats as pets; they both loved their pets dearly. They also spent much time and effort cleaning up the trash on the Fincks Basin Road. Michael was also an avid reader. He was a parishioner of Holy Family Church of Little Falls, and member of the LF Elks Club, LF Rotary Club, the Moose Club. VFW, and the DeCarlo-Staffo Post. Michael leaves his wife, Dodie, at home; his mother, Neva, age 101, at the Foltsbrook Center in Herkimer; sons Kevin Volo and Judy Wolf, of Little Falls, and Christopher and Jennifer Volo of Syracuse; grandchildren, Maximilian Volo, Cassidy Rose and Hannah Emilia Volo; brothers Joseph and Carolyn (Sissy) Volo, and David and Jackie Volo, all of Little Falls; sister-in-law, Donna DeLucco, and brother-in-law, Frederick DeLucco, both of Dolgeville; nieces and nephews, Tina Volo, Jason (Tonya) Volo, Natasha DeLucco-Campione (Brok Robideau), Courtney Pawluk, Devin Verri, Evan Pawluk, Shannon Scaparo, and Carl Scaparo; Aunt Florence Cardarelli, Uncle Joe DiChristina, Aunts Mary and Josephine DiChristina, and many cousins. Michael was predeceased by his father, Nebo; nephew, James DeLucco-Campione, infant nephew Steven Scaparo; his in-laws, Frederick and Joy DeLucco; his ex-wife Marie, and many aunts and uncles on the Volo side of the family. Michael has many friends, which include Mike George, Eddie Becker, Richard Ruggiero, and John Cucolo. He recently met with his service buddies at the Ann Street Deli, which included Ken Clark, whom he last saw 50 plus years ago in Vietnam, Ronnie Kane, Craig Hebert, Donnie Bronson, and Eddie Becker. Mike was very happy to attend that get-together. Friends and relatives are invited to attend Michael’s Memorial Mass on Friday, August 20, 2021, at 11:00 AM, at the Holy Family Parish Church, corner of East Main & John Street, Little Falls, and will be celebrated by Father Brian Slezak, Pastor. There will be no calling hours or burial ceremony. Immediately following Mass, Military Honors will be accorded, and the family will greet friends and relatives. In lieu of flowers, please consider the needs of the family. The family is being cared for by the Enea Family Funeral Home, 24 W. Monroe Street, Little Falls, NY. Funeral Directors Harry J. Enea, Jr; Kevin E. Enea, and Martin L. Ciaccia, (315-823-2424). Online notes of sympathy may be left at www.eneafamily.com.