Celestine Fulco

Celestine Fulco, 91, daughter of Abramo Destro and Anita (Cittadini) Destro, and loving wife for 71 years of Salvatore Nicholas (“Nick”) Fulco, passed away peacefully in her Suffield home on May 15, 2017 with her family by her side. Celestine was born in the village of Lozzo Atestino in the Veneto region of Italy. At the age of 5, she fled with her family to Auboue, France to escape the Italian Fascists. Auboue was later overrun by the German Army and became a part of Occupied France during World War II. Celestine met Nick, the love of her life and a decorated veteran of the Battle of the Bulge, when General Patton’s Third Army, in which he served, liberated Auboue. They married in Brussels in 1945, and the next year she came to these shores with their infant son Bob, eagerly embraced her new U.S. citizenship, and together in love, the couple raised four children, Robert, Michael, John, and Anita. They resided in Hartford, and then later in Windsor, Wethersfield and Suffield. Celestine was a devoted mother with a presence that radiated unswerving love, connection and regard for her children and family. These gifts she gave us formed the bedrock in each of us and endure despite her passing. That same generous and nurturing spirit drew people to her and inspired trust and confidence in most everyone she encountered. Celestine was predeceased by her older sister, Wilhelmina of France and her younger sister, Marie of East Hartford. She is survived by her loving husband and her children, Robert and his wife Marilyn, Michael and his wife Adrienne, John and his wife Patricia, and Anita and her partner Allan, seven grandchildren, Kimberly, Jennifer, Matthew, Daniel, Giuliano, Laura and Caroline and three great grandchildren, Owen, Eli and Madeleine, as well as her sister Marie’s husband, Dominic Jr., and children, Dominic III, Mark and Brian and her sister Wilhelmina’s children, Roland, Gilles and Francoise, all of whom she loved and cherished. The Fulco family would like to express their gratitude to the health care professionals at Hartford Hospital and Masonicare for their skillful care and empathy throughout Celestine’s final illness. Her family also thanks the staff of Suffield by the River for the compassionate care and friendship they have given and the kindness they have shown to both Celestine and Nick.

Funeral arrangements will be private. The D’Esopo Funeral Chapel, Wethersfield is assisting the family. For online expressions of sympathy, please visit www.desopo.com. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Franciscan Friars of St. John the Baptist Province 1615 Vine Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202, (513) 721-4700.