Obituary of Walter Malena

Walter Stanley Malena, 70, passed away on December 11, 2023 following a long illness. Born in Newark, New Jersey on October 4, 1953, Walter was the son of Dorothy Hayes Malena and the late John Stanley Malena. He studied business at Lees College, and went on to work in construction and maintenance as a welder, painter, and electrician. He was an Army veteran who served during the Vietnam Era and received the Expert Rifleman medal. He spent time living in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, before settling in Frankfort in 1988. Walter was a member of Good Shepherd Catholic Church and a collector of pocket knives. He enjoyed the outdoors, whether it was fishing, boating, hunting, or growing seedlings and plants. Walter is survived by his wife, Laura Moretti Malena; mother, Dorothy Hayes Malena; son Raymond John Paul Malena; sisters Linda Heck, Carol Azif, Denise Mazzotta, and Marlene Giddens (Allen); brother John Malena; grandson Raymond Alan Malena; and his three children from a previous marriage, Walter, Michael, and Melissa. He was preceded in death by his father John; son Justin Alexander Malena; unborn son Francis Malena; and grandson Caysen Malena. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Good Shepherd Catholic Church at 12:00 pm Friday, December 15th with visitation preceding at 11:00 am. Burial will follow in the Frankfort Cemetery. Father John Lijana will officiate the services. Honorary pallbearers will be Joseph Moretti, Michael D. Rice, and Raymond John Malena. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to Bluegrass Care Navigators (Hospice).