A Mass of Christian Burial for Army Staff Sgt. Robert Massarelli was celebrated July 7 at St. Julie Billiart Parish in Hamilton. Massarelli, 32, died on June 24 while serving in Kandahar, Afghanistan with the U.S. Army’s 96^th Transportation Company out of Fort Hood, Texas.

A native of Hamilton, Massarelli  joined the Army after graduating from high school in 1998. He left military in 2001, only to reenlist several years later for love of the camaraderie and service to his country. He completed three tours in Iraq prior to his final tour in Afghanistan.

Massarelli is survived by his parents, Pat and Mary, and brothers, Michael and Benjamin. Interment was in St. Stephen Cemetery with full military honors.