Thomas A Vailette, 91, of Branford, entered rest on Feb. 12. He was the beloved husband of 65 years to Anna-Marie Bontatibus Vailette. Tom was born in New Haven on April 29, 1931, son of the late Peter and Mary Falanga Vailette.

He is survived by his beloved children, Thomas Vailette, Jeffrey Vailette (Theresa), Christopher Vailette, Michele Ranucci, and Ann-Marie McCarthy (Thomas). He is also survived by his loving grandchildren, Jeffrey, Jr., Melissa Sundholm (Scott), Andrew, Christopher, Kelly, Alena Ranucci, Cecelia Ranucci, Ryan McCarthy, Sean McCarty, Lauren McCarthy, and Allison McCarthy. He was also blessed with four great-grandchildren, Ella and Matthew Vailette and George and Edison Sundholm.

Tom earned an honorable discharge from the U.S. Army after serving in the Korean conflict. He returned to work at Ude, Murray & Cannan where he was the assistant manager until he opened Tom’s Atlantic, a gas and service station in North Haven, in 1960. After 10 years, he returned to Branford, where he owned and operated Vailette Auto Parts until his retirement in 1993. Tom was also very talented, as was evident by the home he built for his family.

Tom was a lifetime member of the Branford Italian-American Social Club, where he was past president. He also was a past member of the Branford Lions Club and the Pine Orchard Yacht & Country Club, where he enjoyed playing golf.

His family would like to thank everyone at The Guilford House for the extraordinary compassion and care shown to Tom during his illness.

Relatives and friends called on Feb. 15, at the W.S. Clancy Memorial Funeral Home, 244 North Main Street, Branford, and were invited for a Mass of Christian burial on Feb. 16, at St John Bosco Parish at St. Mary Church, 731 Main Street, Branford. Interment with military honors followed at St Agnes Cemetery. For directions and an online memorial, see www.wsclancy.com.