Ann Maffucci

Ann Maffucci, born Ann Iudica, passed away Wednesday, August 31, 2016 at the age of 82 after a long struggle with Alzheimer’s. Ann was born on November 10, 1933 in Hartford to Vincenza “Zena” LaBella Iudica and Cesare “Michael” Iudica, and lived most of her life in Wethersfield. Ann was married 62 years on Sunday, August 28 to her high school sweetheart and love of her life, Vito “Bill” Maffucci. As a young woman, Ann was a singer and a dancer. Her love of dance and music continued throughout her life—she was never without a tune on her lips and taught belly dancing well in to her seventies. A woman ahead of her time, Ann was a beloved local entrepreneur and restaurateur, and a strong advocate for other women going into business for themselves. Among her life’s successful business ventures, she owned and ran Miss Ann's School of Dance from 1952-1958 and Contour Slenderizing Studio for Women in Wethersfield from 1968-1978, when she and her husband opened Vito’s Pizzeria and Restaurant in Wethersfield. Ann’s legacy and recipes still make up the heart of Vito’s Restaurant Group today in its three locations in the Hartford area, all owned and operated by her children. Ann was fiercely independent; equal parts giving and tough, a loving grandmother, a strong boss, and a kind listener. She loved her customers, whom she always remembered, and lived for her family and her dogs. In tribute to the many lives Ann touched in her community, barely a day goes by when her customers do not ask after her at Vito’s in Wethersfield. Ann will always be remembered by those closest to her for her warm laugh and fearless spirit. She is survived by her husband Vito; four children: Michael Maffucci and wife Isabel, Carolann Maffucci and husband Jonathan Bonds, Linda Brady and husband Kevin, Rob Maffucci and wife Millie Texidor-Maffucci; Dawn Levene, who was like a daughter to her; her ten grandchildren: Matthew, Vincent, Amanda, Dion, Megan, Alexandra, Jonathan, Olivia, Abigail, and Liberty, as well as many cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Funeral service will be Wednesday (September 7) at 9 a.m. at the D’Esopo Funeral Chapel, 277 Folly Brook Blvd., Wethersfield followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. at Holy Trinity Church, 53 Capitol Ave., Hartford. The burial will be in Cedar Hill Cemetery, Hartford. Calling hours are Tuesday (September 6) from 4-8 p.m. at the funeral chapel. In lieu of flowers, donations in Ann’s memory may be made to the Alzheimer's Association (Note-Amyloid Avengers), 399 Market St, Suite 102, Philadelphia, PA 19106, or online at http://Act.alz.org/goto/amyloidavengers. To share a memory of Ann with her family, please visit www.desopo.com.