This is Ralph's obituary as published in the Hartford Courant on 15 November 2006. 
 

It is with profound sadness that we announce the death of our beloved husband and father. 

Ralph Minella, 66, of Manchester died on Sunday, (November 12, 2006) at Hartford Hospital after a massive stroke. He was born August 9, 1940, a son of the late Mary (Gillette) and Ralph Minella, Sr. of Plainville. He graduated from Plainville High School and attended the University of Hartford. 

Ralph was an Air National Guard Veteran, serving during Vietnam. An accountant by profession, Ralph was really a jack-of-all-trades and a handyman at heart. Most importantly, Ralph was a devoted and loving husband, father, and grandfather. 

He enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren: building intricate marble mazes and legos, attending train shows and growing spectacular tomato gardens with them. Ralph was a gentle and kind man. He always had the time to listen and offer advice and would drop everything to lend a hand. The best thing about Ralph was his laugh. He laughed often and loudly, a laugh that will be greatly missed, but remembered fondly. 

Besides being predeceased by his parents, Ralph was also predeceased by his younger brother, Ramon. He is survived by his wife of 43 years, Barbara and two daughters and sons-in-law, Robyn & Robert and Pam & Randy, five grandchildren and numerous nieces & nephews. 

Friends may call between the hours of 5-8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 16 at the Aurora-McCarthy Funeral Home, 167 Old Hartford Road, Colchester. All other services are private. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, 6931 Arlington Road, Bethesda, MD 20814.