Pasquale 'Pat' LaVita, 78, died at Melrose-Wakefield Hospital on Saturday April 24th after a lengthy illness. He was born and raised in East Boston, graduated from E. Boston High School, was a longtime resident of East Boston and has lived in Melrose since 1969. He served in the US Navy during WWII. Pat was a patrolman for the Boston Police Department for 20 years retiring in 1979 and was a member of the Retired Boston Police Organization. He was the husband of Vivian ( Carrafiello ) LaVita for 52 years. Father of Stephen A. LaVita & his wife Donna of W. Peabody, Peter M. LaVita & his wife Carrie of Topsfield and the late Richard LaVita. Grandfather of Elizabeth, Jamie, Kerri, Nicholas, Tara, Jennifer, Peter Jr. and great grandfather of Kobi. Brother of Mary Catone of No Reading, Joan Tucker of Duluth GA. and the late Anthony LaVita. Also survived by several nieces and nephews. Funeral from the Gately Funeral Home 79 W. Foster St. Melrose on Wednesday April 28 at 9:00 AM. Funeral Mass in the Church of the Incarnation, 425 Upham St. Melrose, at 10:00 AM. Relatives and friends invited. Visiting hours Tuesday from 4-8 PM. Burial will be in Holy Cross Cemetery Madden. Memorial contributions may be sent to the National Kidney Foundation, 11 Vanderbuilt Ave., Suite #105, Norwood, MA 02062 or to the Hallmark Health Hospice, 100 Hospital Rd, Malden, 02148.