Carmelo Joseph Rossi

On July 18, 2010, Carmelo Joseph Rossi, 94, of Rocky Hill, formerly of Wethersfield, with his family by his side, peacefully passed into the comforting arms of his Creator and the loving arms of his wife, Gaetana 'Gay' Calabro Rossi, who predeceased him in 2008 after 68 years of marriage. Born in Siracusa, Sicily, Italy, on October 23, 1915 to the late Luigi and Francesca Salerno Rossi, Carmelo immigrated to America in May of 1929 on the passenger liner, Augustus. He settled in Connecticut and lived on Temple Street, Hartford, with his family. On April 3, 1940, he married his childhood sweetheart, Gay. Together they had two children, whom he leaves behind: his son, Louis J. Rossi and his wife Mary Ann of Rocky Hill; his daughter, Lucy Petrella and her husband Frank of Middlefield; his cherished sister, Sue Rossi of Hartford; his beloved grandchildren: Sandra Miller and her husband John; Cheryl Wickham and her husband Jason; Michelle Rossi and her partner Janine Doucette; Kim Brazel and her husband John; Karrie Buerk and her husband Michael; his precious great grandchildren whom he adored: Kayla and Aaron Wickham; Courtney and Victoria Brazel; and Alexandra, Austin, and Adam Buerk, as well as many nieces and nephews in Connecticut, Long Island, and New Jersey. He also leaves a very special 'family', the staff and residents at the Lodge at Cold Springs, Rocky Hill, with whom he shared companionship, many meals, setback and poker games, bingo and other activities, and especially his dear friends Mary Kasper, Irene Borowski, Sophie Godlewski, and John Foran. Carmelo was predeceased by his brother, John Rossi and his sister Lucy Rossi Terzo. Carmelo was a quiet, hard working, industrious man whose only concern was the welfare of his family. He worked at the American Sumatra Tobacco warehouse, the Underwood Typewriter Company and G. Fox & Co in Hartford. When the Underwood closed down, he worked for Aetna Insurance until he retired in 1980. He was a member of the St. Lucy Society, the Aetna Men?s Club, and belonged to the Wethersfield Senior Citizens group and enjoyed playing bingo at the center for many years until he moved to Rocky Hill. Carmelo was devoted to St. Anthony and St. Lucy. For many years, keeping with a long-standing Sicilian tradition, he and others would guide the statue of St. Lucy through the Front Street neighborhood of Hartford. Carmelo was an avid fan of the NY Yankees, the UCONN women?s basketball team, the San Francisco Giants, and the NFL New York Giants team. He never missed a game or sharing sports news with his son several times a day. He cherished his grandchildren and great grandchildren and you could often find Carmelo playing 500 Rummy, watching a soccer game or laughing at their antics. He enjoyed cooking and was famous for his red and green pepper dishes and baked eggplants. Carmen, Daddy, Beepa, Grandpa, Zio, Uncle 'C', or by whatever name he was known, lived a long and full life. He will be sorely missed. The family would like to extend their heartfelt thanks and appreciation to the staff at Hartford Hospital: 10th floor nursing, especially Sarah and Joanna; 5th floor Hospice, especially Dr. Sharon Diamen, Pat F., Andrea, and Dorothy; and a special thank you to Lisa Chaderjian, APRN, for her loving care, sincere compassion, and deep concern. Funeral services will leave Thursday, July 22, at 9 a.m. from the D?Esopo Funeral Chapel, 277 Folly Brook Blvd, Wethersfield for a 10 a.m. Mass of Christian Burial in St. Patrick-St. Anthony Church, 285 Church St., Hartford to rejoice in his newly found peace with the Lord. Friends and family may gather to celebrate his life on Wednesday from 5-8 p.m. at the funeral chapel. His earthly resting place will be at Rose Hill Memorial Park in Rocky Hill. In lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory can be made to the American Heart Association-CT Chapter, 5 Brookside Drive, P.O. Box 5022, Wallingford, CT 06492 or to National MS Society, Connecticut Chapter, 659 Tower Ave., First Floor, Hartford, CT 06112. Condolences, thoughts, and remembrances can be posted on-line at www.desopo.com.