Vincent L. Oliva, of Tara Green Lane, Norwich, N.Y., formerly of Cabot, passed away Friday evening at Wilson Hospital of Johnson City, N.Y.

Our dad, Vincent L. Oliva, was born May 12, 1922, in West Winfield. He says he was delivered by a witch doctor; we unfortunately can't explain what he meant by that and were afraid to ask.

His father, Samuel, and mother Josephine Oliva, both were Italian immigrants. They were extremely hardworking people, which was passed on to our dad, Vincent. Our dad had two brothers and a sister; his brother, Carmen Oliva, survives him at age 91. His sister, Mary Sassone, and brother Anthony are deceased. They gave us a beautiful family tree, with their strong Italian heritage.

Our dad graduated from high school in 1940, and had plans of attending a business college, but love and World War II changed the course of his future! He married the girl next door, Mary P. Oliva, who is now 82. Mom resides at Chenango Memorial Nursing Home. Mom was forced to live in an orphanage after the loss of her mother at the young age of 33. Later she returned home to her father, Ceasar Poretti.

Our mother soon became acquainted with a very handsome neighbor named Vincent Oliva. It took only one date, a trip to the dentist office, with the girl next door to realize she was the one! They soon married and began their love affair, which lasted 62 years. This dedication and love of each other seemed unmatched in our generation.

When they were first married in New Kensington, dad left for the military on the 3rd day and was sent to the Philippines to defend his country. While in the military, he risked his life to rescue a fellow soldier and was successful. This act of heroism was indeed one of his proudest moments in his life.

After the war, Vincent returned home to his wife Mary and they built a home in Cabot. Soon after, with the Lord's blessing, they began to experience the beautiful miracles of childbirth.

After the birth of their first son, dad worked two jobs. He worked as a foreman at the Butler County Mushroom Mine, and then opened his barbershop in the evenings at his home. As our family began growing, his wife became ill, and our dad was forced to leave his job in West Winfield and become a full-time barber at his home, in a career that lasted 50 years.

During their 62 years of marriage, he balanced his time barbering, parenting, and gardening, and taking care of his wife, our mother, who was suffering from emotional and physical disorders.

In March 2001, due to his wife's developing Alzheimer's Disease, he was forced to sell his home and move to Norwich, to live with his youngest daughter, Jeanne, and her husband, Rick Brightman. This move was very difficult for our dad, to have to leave his home he built in Cabot and make this unselfish move to leave everything he worked so hard for, but in his words it must be God's will, and he would have to accept this drastic change in his life.

We don't know how this man we called dad was able to do it all, not to mention how he helped others in their times of need. We do know that the Lord above had given him the strength to carry him in these most difficult years. He always told us he prayed to God every night, some nights all night until he fell asleep. This humble but capable person continued to devote his life to God and his family, and all of his friends. We as his children have also been blessed to have such a wonderful person to have as our father, who we called dad.

Vincent is survived by his wife of 62 years, Mary Oliva of Norwich; his children: Robert Oliva and wife, Jayne Bianco, of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., Vincent Oliva and wife Darline of Nederland, Texas, Donald Oliva and wife Sandra of Palm Coast, Fla., Donna Menkin and husband Robert of Lancaster and Jeanne Brightman and husband Rick of Norwich; 20 grandchildren: Michele Huffman, Rick Oliva, Lori Billiot, Tami McGhee, Michael Oliva, Mark Oliva, Valerie Menkin, Chad Brightman, Allison Brightman, Kimberly Walker, Casey Walker, Nicholas, Anna and Jenna Bongiovanni, Christopher Brightman, Jessica Menkin, John Menkin, Ashley Brightman, Donald Oliva, Jr. and Steven Menkin; and 13 great-grandchildren: Jack and Matthew Huffman, Connor Oliva, Andrew Oliva, Macey Billiot, Mark Billiot, Jr., Cullan, Brandon and Chloe King, Morgan and Alexandria McGhee and Alexis and Ashton Walker. Also surviving is his brother, Carmen Oliva, along with several nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by his sister and brother, Mary Sassone and Anthony Oliva.

His legacy will continue with his 5 children, 2 special sons-in-law, 4 wonderful daughters-in-law, 20 grandchildren, and 13 great grandchildren. Dad, we want you to know we will continue to care for your wife, our mother, until she joins you at her final resting place the Good Lord has prepared for you and her in the Heavens above...Amen!

All these facts are important to our family and friends, and this is why we felt compelled to publish this obituary out of love and enormous respect for our dad, Vincent L. Oliva, who we lay to rest. We love you....Bob, Vin, Don, Donna, & Jeanne.

OLIVA - Friends may call at R. J. FAHY FUNERAL HOME, 116 North Broad St., Norwich, from 7-9 p.m. Monday. A Mass of Resurrection for Vincent will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday from the Church of the Holy Apostle St. Bartholomew's. The Rev. Douglas Cunningham, pastor, will officiate. Entombment will be at a later date in St. Paul's Cemetery.