John A. Christiano, 85, of 32 Vera St., East Haven, formerly of Branford, died Jan. 7 at the Connecticut Hospice, Branford, after a brief battle with cancer.  He was the beloved husband of the late Maryellen Tolderlund Christiano. He was born in Port Chester, New York, on Dec. 3, 1925, son of the late Pasquale and Mary Christiano.  He had served in the U. S. Navy during World War II and was a retired union plumber, having worked in New Haven for many years.  John loved to cook and paint, and he was a devoted New York Yankees fan.  

He is survived by his children, Michelle Mauro and her husband Bob Garbarino of Killingworth, Holly Krischtschun and her husband Ken of Branford, Eric Christiano and his wife Susan of North Branford, and Dean Christiano of East Haven; 11 grandchildren, Layla, Guy, Kayla, and Jonathan Christiano, Robert and Matthew Chamberlain, Robin Filley, Melissa Ferranti, and Myles, Erika, and Jaclyn Krischtschun; and eight great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by four children, Kim, Guy, Jonna, and Lisa Christiano; his grandson, Nicholas Christiano; and seven siblings, William, Daniel, Mary, Josephine, Jennifer, Roseanne, and Vera.

A funeral procession will leave the W. S. Clancy Memorial Funeral Home, 504 Main St., Branford, on Wednesday, Jan. 12, at 9:30 a.m., for a memorial mass of Christian burial in St. Mary Church, Branford, at 10 a.m.  Burial will follow in St. Agnes Cemetery.  Friends may call prior to the funeral from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. at the funeral home.  In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105.  For directions and online memorial see www.wsclancy.com.