Elvira “Maria” Ava (Gionfriddo) Lagana, 96, formerly of the South End of Hartford, beloved wife for 52 years of the late Anthony Lagana, joined him again on Saturday, October 6, 2018. She was born May 1, 1922 in Priolo Gargallo, province of Siracusa, Sicily to the late Santo and Lucia (Guzzardi) Gionfriddo. She moved to the United States in 1948 with the love of her life, Anthony.
Maria worked in many factories. Her true passion was cooking for anyone and everyone. She cherished her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren and they always came first in her eyes.
Maria will always be loved and remembered by her two sons, Elio "Al" Lagana and wife Barbara of Niantic and Aldo Lagana and wife Teresa of Orlando, FL; five grandchildren, Jennifer LoGiudice and husband Giovanni “John”, Nicole Martin and husband Jonah, Danielle Lagana-Dale and husband Elliot, Paul Lagana and Christopher Lagana and five great-grandchildren, Olivia and Sebastian LoGiudice, Gavin and Haley Nix and Leo Dale. In addition to her husband and parents, Maria was predeceased by all of her nine siblings.
The family would like to extend a special thank you to Lauren Charles and the staff at Caregivers by Kathy, and the tender care given by Middlesex Hospice and Palliative Care.
Funeral services will begin Thursday (October 11) at 9 a.m. from the D'Esopo Funeral Chapel, 277 Folly Brook Blvd., Wethersfield with a Mass of Christian Burial celebrated at 10 a.m. at St. Augustine Church, 10 Campfield Avenue, Hartford. Entombment will follow in Cedar Hill Cemetery, Hartford. Family and friends may call on Wednesday from 4-7 p.m. at the funeral chapel. Donations in Maria’s memory may be made to Middlesex Hospital Hospice, 28 Crescent Street, Middletown, CT 06457. To share a memory of Maria with her family, please visit www.desopofuneralchapel.com.
