Naldiro John Mello
December 8, 1940 – June 28, 2022
Naldiro “John” Mello of Turlock went on to be with the Lord on June 28, 2022 at home with his loving family.
He was born on December 8, 1940 on the Azores Island of Terceira to John and Lilliana Mello. He was the youngest of four children. In 1949 when John was only 8 ½ years old, his father decided to bring his family to America for a better life with more opportunities. They traveled by boat to Ellis Island, NY then took a Greyhound bus across the country to Los Banos, California where his father milked cows. At a very young age he learned by watching his father to be the honest, hardworking, respectful man his friends and family knew him to be.
On June 10, 1962, John married the love of his life Connie Sue Gilbert. Together they had three children, Michael, Christina and Steven. Over the course of 60 years they lived in various places throughout California until settling in the Central Valley. It was there John’s dream of business ownership in the purchase of his first dairy was fulfilled. In 1978, he partnered with his brother Arnold and created Mello Brothers Dairy. After a few additional business adventures once they sold the dairy, John and Arnold partnered once again in 1989 with the purchase of M & M Corner Mini Mart for his final and most enjoyed business.
After the dairy business John was able to spend more time riding and enjoying his love for horses. He was a member of the World Cattle Sorting Association for many years. During that time he competed in cattle penning and cattle sorting where he won numerous buckles, saddles and various other prizes with the help of his favorite horse Poco. In addition to competing, John enjoyed trips to the mountains with his horses. Every summer he and his family would join friends at Clarks Fork for a week of trail riding, campfires and memory making. Those were some of John’s favorite times.
John was preceded in death by his parents, John Mello and Lilliana Freitas, his stepfather Frank Freitas, his sister Lillian Sharp and his granddaughter Julie Mello. He is survived by his wife Connie Mello, his sons Michael Mello (Tanya) and Steven Mello (Cindy) and daughter Christina Mello, grandchildren, Kevin Mello (Crystal), Taylor Mello, Justin Mello and Kyle Mello (Ashely), as well as great grandchildren Tyler, Avery and Lane. John also leaves behind siblings Arnold Mello (Elizabeth) and Mary Rocha and numerous beloved nieces and nephews.
Services will be held at Allen Mortuary on Wednesday, July 20, 2022 at 1pm. Inurnment will be private.
