Antonino Nino Giarratano

Antonino ""Nino"" Giarratano, 87, of Pinellas Park, FL, passed away peacefully on Wednesday (April 23, 2014) in St. Petersburg, FL. Born in Hartford on September 1, 1926, he was the son of the late Salvatore and Carmela Giarratano and lived in Hartford for most of his life before moving to Florida 20 years ago. He was a proud WW II veteran of the U. S. Navy. He served aboard the Heavy Cruiser USS St. Paul which had the distinction of firing the last naval salvo of the war which directly contributed to the surrender of Japan. Prior to his retirement, he was employed as an insurance representative for John Hancock Insurance Co. and he was employed by The Ryder Truck Rental Company. Nino was a loving father, grandfather and great grandfather who was devoted to his family. The true passion in Nino's life was to cook. He enjoyed creating his delicious Italian cuisine and especially delighted in sharing them with his family and friends. He is survived by his children; daughters, Debra Nault of Florida, Helen Jones of Alaska and Patricia Cicero and her husband Reynold of Bloomfield; his son, Antonino Giarratano and wife Collette of Glastonbury; seven grandchildren, Jason, Jennie, Steven, Christina, Tony, Alexandra and Nino; his great-granddaughters, Gabriella, Saraphina and Sophia; his sisters, Gloria Ierna and her husband Joseph and Margherita Masters and her husband Chuck, all of Florida. He is also survived by his sister-in-law, Pearl Giarratano and brother-in-law, Phillip Cohun, as well as many beloved nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by Helene Giarratano, his sister and her husband, Nella and Mike D'Onofrio; his brother, Rosario ""Sarino"" Giarratano; his sisters, Josephine Miele and her husband Anthony, Elena Cohun and Elsie Boucher and her husband Joseph and Michael Atwood. The funeral is Thursday (May 1) at 9:15 a.m. from the D'Esopo Funeral Chapel, 277 Folly Brook Blvd., Wethersfield followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. in Corpus Christi Church, 601 Silas Deane Highway, Wethersfield. Burial with military honors will be in Cedar Hill Cemetery, Hartford. The family will receive relatives and friends on Wednesday from 4-7 p.m. at the funeral chapel. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital , P.O. Box 1000, Dept. 142, Memphis, TN 38101-9908. For on-line expressions of sympathy, please visit www.desopo.com