Josephine C. D'Atri

Josephine C. D'Atri, 88, of Hartford, died peacefully on September 11, 2010 at Hartford Hospital after a brief illness. She was born on April 17, 1922 to Anna and Donato Palagano and raised in Hartford along with her three sisters and a large extended family. She was predeceased by her husband of 33 years, Louis A. D'Atri and their daughter, Mary Louise Kendrick. She was also predeceased by her sisters, Irene DiTommaso and Mary P. Gorman, and their husbands Guerino DiTommaso and James F. Gorman; her brother-in-law Samuel P. Tolisano; and nephew Lawrence P. Gorman. She is survived by her sister Carmela P. Tolisano of Hartford, a frequent visitor who shared afternoon tea and Italian dishes. She leaves her daughter, Anne D. Krafft of Simsbury, CT; along with her grandson, Anthony L. Krafft and his partner, Kristina A. Olson, and their son Noah Anthony Krafft; her only great-grandchild and her greatest joy. She also leaves her granddaughter, Alyssa L. Krafft and her partner Marc Gauthier of Spokane, WA. She is also survived by her loving son, Salvatore A. D'Atri and his wife Denise, of Charlestown, NH; as well as her grandson Justin D'Atri of Arlington, MA, and granddaughter Nicole D'Atri of Keene, NH. Grandma ""Josie"" shared special relationships with each of her grandchildren. She is also survived by her niece Annette and husband Gary Maruca of South Windsor and niece Irene Fleming and her husband Peter of East Hartford, CT; her nephew James F. Gorman and his wife Mary of Rocky Hill, CT; her nephew, Donald Tolisano and his wife Kate of Middlefield, CT; and her niece Joanne Bernier and her husband John of Cape Coral, FL. She leaves many great nieces and nephews who knew her as ""Aunt Joey"" or ""Aunt Jo"", as well as the Krafft and Stith families of Ohio. She also leaves many nieces and nephews from her husband's family as well as her sisters-in-law Florence D'Atri of Farmington, CT; Bertha Sylvester of West Hartford; and Mary Mandzuk of Wethersfield, CT. She is also survived by her very dear friends Laura Klemba of Portland, CT and Elaine Daly of Wethersfield, CT; her wonderful neighbor Cynthia Greathouse and her friend Lorraine Lowe of Rocky Hill, all of whom she considered part of her family. Josephine retired from the State of Connecticut, Department of Transportation after 28 years of service as an administrative secretary. She followed current events closely and was particularly fond of watching the NBC evening news with Brian Williams. She was a life-long communicant of St. Patrick-St. Anthony Church in Hartford, having been baptized and married there when the church of St. Anthony's was in it's original location. She was an active member of the Ladies Guild and its' secretary for many years, as well as a member of the Prayer Network of the church. She eagerly attended Sunday Mass and all church functions and watched the daily television Mass. She was a very social person, enjoyed traveling or ""eating out"" whenever she could and was very proud to be Italian. Her greatest joys were her family and their personal and individual accomplishments and being able to cook wonderful Italian meals for loved ones, giving away most of what she made. She also loved to play cards and board games with her nieces and her grandchildren. Family and friends are kindly invited to visit from 4-7 p.m. on Tuesday September 14, at the D'Esopo Funeral Chapel 277 Folly Brook Blvd., Wethersfield. Funeral services will leave Wednesday September 15 at 9:15 a.m. from the funeral chapel in Wethersfield for a Mass of Christian Burial that will be celebrated at 10 a.m. in St. Patrick-St. Anthony Church, 285 Church Street, Hartford. Burial will follow in Northwood Cemetery, Windsor, as it was her wish to be buried with her husband who was a veteran of World War II. Memorial contributions in Josephine's memory may be made to St. Patrick-St.Anthony Ladies' Guild Scholarship, 285 Church Street, Hartford, CT 06103. For online expressions of sympathy please visit www.desopo.com