Giovannina Jennie Rossi (Macca)

Giovannina “Jennie” (Macca) Rossi, formerly of Hartford, beloved wife of the late John Rossi, Sr. passed away Wednesday (January 9, 2013) six days shy of her 97th birthday at Hartford Hospital. Born on January 15, 1916 in Siracusa, Sicily, she was the daughter of the late Sebastian and Giuseppina (Petrolito) Macca. She worked for the former Veeder-Root Industries and later for the Hartford Public Library, retiring many years ago. Jennie was a former communicant of St. Luke Church, Hartford and a member of the St. Lucy Society. She was a member of the South End Seniors and the Ella T. Grasso Lodge of Sons of Italy. She enjoyed playing Bingo, watching UConn Women’s Basketball games and cooking, especially holiday meals for her family. Jennie was a hard worker; she was small in stature but she had a very big heart. She always took care of others before she took care of herself. She is survived by her two devoted sons, Louis P. Rossi and his wife Nancy of Newington and John Rossi Jr. and his wife Patricia of Glastonbury; four adored grandchildren, Lisa Soignoli and her husband Rick of Cromwell, Robert Rossi and his wife Patricia of Laurel, MD, Matthew Rossi and his wife Kathleen of Newington and Andrea Gasparri and her husband Anthony of Berlin; seven cherished great-grandchildren, Nicholas Soignoli, Adriano and Dante Rossi, Ella and Kiara Rossi and Anthony J. and Olivia Gasparri; her brother, Frank Macca of Rocky Hill; sister-in-law, Sue Rossi of Wethersfield and her brother-in-law, Philip Turmel of Wethersfield, as well as many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by a brother, Joseph Macca and a sister, Nancy Turmel. A very special thank you to the doctors, nurses and staff at Atria Greenridge Place and Hartford Hospital Hospice and Palliative Care Unit for the care, compassion and love shown to Jennie and her family.

Funeral service will begin Monday (January 14) at 9:30 a.m. at the D’Esopo Funeral Chapel, 277 Folly Brook Blvd., Wethersfield followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 a.m. at St. Patrick & St. Anthony Church, 285 Church Street, Hartford. The burial will be in Mt. St. Benedict Cemetery, Bloomfield. The family will receive relatives and friends on Sunday from 3-7 p.m. at the funeral chapel. Donations in Jennie’s memory may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, 2075 Silas Deane Hwy., Suite 100, Rocky Hill, CT 06067 or VNA Healthcare, 103 Woodland St., Hartford, CT 06105. For on line expressions of sympathy please visit www.desopo.com.