Rocco 'al' Rotondaro

Rocco 'Al' Rotondaro, 94, of Wethersfield, beloved husband of Josephine (Cianci) Rotondaro, passed away on Thursday, July 23, 2009. He was born on August 16, 1914 in San Basile, Province of Calabria, Italy to the late Leone and Maria Rosa (Frega) Rotondaro. A devout Catholic, Al was a faithful communicant of Corpus Christi Church and the Church of the Incarnation, both in Wethersfield. Prior to his retirement, Al and his brother John were owners of the former Chicago Market in Hartford for 40 years. He was an avid gardener of both vegetables and flowers and was an excellent chef who liked to cook for friends and family. He also loved soccer, especially his Italian National Team. Besides his loving wife of 67 years, Al is survived by his son, Leonard P. Rotondaro of Newington; his daughter, Dolores T. Skladnowski and her husband Eugene of Wethersfield, with whom he made his home; his granddaughter Tricia M. Skladnowski and his grandson James A. Skladnowski, both of Wethersfield; his brothers, John Rotondaro of Wethersfield and Vittorino Rotondaro and his wife, Mariella of Rome, Italy; a sister-in-law, Ida Cianci of Sunnyvale, CA and several nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be Saturday, July 25 at 9 a.m. from the D?Esopo Funeral Chapel, 277 Folly Brook Blvd., Wethersfield followed by a 10 a.m. Mass of Christian Burial at Corpus Christi Church, 601 Silas Deane Highway, Wethersfield. Burial will be at Cedar Hill Cemetery, Hartford. Relatives and friends may call at the funeral chapel TODAY (Friday, July 24) from 5-8 p.m. Memorial donations in Al?s memory may be made to the American Lung Association of CT, 45 Ash Street, East Hartford, CT 06108. For on-line expressions of sympathy to the family, please visit www.desopo.com.