Vincenzo Giovanni Cessario

Vincenzo Giovanni Cessario, 90, of East Hartford, passed away peacefully on Holy Thursday (April 5, 2012) at home surrounded by his wife Josephine and loving family. Vince & his wife Josephine (Papandrea) shared 58 years loving each other and caring for their family. ""Vi"", as he was lovingly called by his wife Josephine, loved to travel and visited many places throughout the world. He loved to meet new people and lived life to the fullest. He was kind, very generous, and always welcomed all into his home. He especially loved being by the sea with his family at Harkness State Park and fishing and relaxing at Hammonasset Beach. He enjoyed playing his mandolin, accordion and his harmonica with his brother Giulio, who he loved so very much. They spent many nights on the phone talking and laughing about life. Vince also enjoyed listening to Italian music and operas, making wine, cultivating his vegetable garden, meticulously maintaining his yard and taking care of his rabbits. He loved his video camera, tape recorder and enjoyed playing the stock market. Vince especially enjoyed family gatherings; it was an opportunity for him to see the family he helped build which brought him so much joy. Vince retired at age 85; He was a barber-hairstylist and the owner of Arnold's Barber Shop on Burnside Avenue in East Hartford. He enjoyed taking care of his loyal customers for over 45 years, many of which became life long friends. He was the longest living member of the Mt. Carmel St. Christina Society in East Hartford and a long time parishioner of St. Rose Church in East Hartford. He was born on June 17, 1921 in San Giovanni di Gerace, province of Reggio Calabria, Italy. He immigrated to the U.S. in 1948 arriving on the Conte Biancamano in NY Harbor. He began cutting hair soon after, and learned much about the American way through his customers as he was eager to attain the ""American Dream"". He attained the dream and much more. He was the son of the late Domenic and Immacolata (Galuzzo) Cessario, and his maternal mother, Concetta (Marcellino); brother and brother-in-law to the late Maria G. (Cessario) and Carmelo Letteri, and Mario Giaconia. Vince is survived by his daughter, Anna Gauvin of Manchester; his two sons and daughters-in-law; Domenic and Rose Cessario of Coventry, Vincent and Catherine Cessario of Burlington; his brother and sister- in-law, Giulio and Valentina Cessario of Rocky Hill, a sister, Concetta Giaconia of Rocky Hill; a brother-in law and sister in law, Domenico and Giuseppina Papandrea of Milan Italy. Grandpa dearly loved his grandchildren and will be missed by Eric Gauvin, Daniel Cessario, Emily Cessario, Michelle Gauvin, Steven Cessario, Michael Cessario, Jennifer Cessario and Christina Cessario. He also leaves many nieces and nephews who he loved very much and many friends. The family especially thanks Rosemarie, Norma and Melina for their gentle care, Carmen & Maria and the nurses of MasonicCare Home Health & Hospice for their kindness and support.

Funeral services will be Tuesday (April 10th) at 9 a.m. from the D'Esopo-East Hartford Memorial Chapel, 30 Carter Street, East Hartford with a Mass of Christian Burial celebrated at 10 a.m. at St. Rose Church, 33 Church Street, East Hartford. Entombment will follow in St. Mary's Cemetery, Burnside Avenue, East Hartford. Relatives and friends may call at the funeral home chapel on Monday (April 9th) from 4-7:30 p.m. For any on-line expressions of sympathy to the family, please visit www.desopo.com