Maria Asunta (Colaneri) DiNinni

Maria A. (Colaneri) DiNinni, 95, of East Hartford, loving wife of 62 years of the late Oreste Tulio DiNinni, peacefully went to be with our Lord on Sunday, May 17, 2026, at her home surrounded by her devoted, caring family. Born in Palmoli, province of Chieti, Italy on June 17, 1930, a daughter of the late Paolo and Loreta (DelMonaco) Colaneri, she had been a resident of East Hartford since 1963. A devout catholic, Maria was a former communicant of St. Patrick-St. Anthony Church in Hartford and St. Mary’s Church, East Hartford where she was a former member of the church Ladies Guild.

A talented seamstress, Maria was the owner and operator for many years of the former Leather & Suede Post on Burnside Avenue, East Hartford. She was known by all her customers for her excellent and impeccable work on clothes, wedding gowns and especially difficult work with leather and suede. This talent brought in many Harley Davidson riders, who treated her like a mom. She liked to sew and crochet blankets and clothes for her family and close friends. She enjoyed gardening, playing cards, rooting for the UConn Women’s basketball team, and going to the beach. She was a life learner who loved to learn new things by listening to the radio and talking with others. She especially liked studying maps, mainly of the United States. Most of all she was proud of her home where she loved cooking, baking and entertaining her family and friends. She was a caring wife, mother, and grandmother who cherished every moment she spent with her family members.

Maria is survived by her three beloved daughters, Valentina “Dina” Daddario and her husband William of Southbury, Elena “Helen” Benson and her husband George of Newtown, Wanda DeLand and her husband Jeff of Ellington; eight special grandchildren, Alexandra Edwards and her husband David of Frederick, MD, Vanessa Vilain and her husband Simon of Ohain, Belgium, Daniela Reed and her husband Isaac of Manassas, VA, Kevin DeLand and his fiancée, Holly McFarland, of Llano, TX, Alyssa DePatie and her husband Joe of Higganum, CT, Sara Winslow and her husband Greg of Cumberland, RI, Ryan DeLand and his wife Amanda of Springfield, MA, Brianna DeLand of Boston, MA; eight adored great-grandchildren, David III, Liana, Cora, Olivia, Viviana, Wesley, Charles, and Elena. She also leaves many nieces, nephews, cousins, former customers, and dear friends. In addition to her husband and parents, Maria was predeceased by all her siblings in Italy.

Funeral service will be Saturday (May 23, 2026) with a Mass of Christian Burial celebrated at 10 am at St. Patrick-St. Anthony Church, 285 Church Street, Hartford. Everyone is asked to please go directly to the church on Saturday morning. Entombment will follow at Mount Saint Benedict Mausoleum in Bloomfield. Maria’s family will receive relatives and friends on Friday (May 22, 2026) from 4 – 7 pm at the D’Esopo East Hartford Memorial Chapel, 30 Carter Street, East Hartford. Maria’s family would like to extend their sincere gratitude and appreciation to Maria’s caregivers, Mary, Elizabeth, Helen, and Luz for their professionalism, wonderful care, love, and compassion given to Maria over these past eighteen months. For on-line expressions of sympathy to the family, please visit www.desopoeh.com