Michael Sessa

Michael Sessa, 68, of Rocky Hill, beloved husband for 40 years of Dora (Giammarco) Sessa, passed away on Thursday (March 24, 2011) surrounded by his loving family after a courageous battle with pulmonary fibrosis. Born on September 25, 1942 in Castelluccio Valmaggiore, province of Foggia Italy, he was the son of the late Vincenzo and Maria Addolorata (D'Angelico) Sessa and had lived in Switzerland and Venezuela prior to immigrating to the U.S. He met the love of his life, Dora in Hartford in 1970 and they were married in 1971. Michael became a barber at a young age and had shops in Hartford, Wethersfield and Rocky Hill. He was passionate about his craft and treated his clients more like family. He enjoyed cooking, gardening, Italian soccer and spending time with his family, especially his granddaughters. Michael put everyone ahead of himself and always made everyone feel special. He was a beloved husband, father, nonno and friend and will be greatly missed. Besides his wife Dora, Michael is survived by his son, Vincenzo and his wife Roseann; his daughter, Mary Elena Irizarry and her husband Jose; his four cherished granddaughters, Francesca Rose, Michela Pia, Isabella Christina and Giuliana Rose; his brother, Martino Sessa and his wife Amelia; sisters, Maria Pompa and her husband Franco and Agniese Barrille and her husband Antonio and his mother-in-law and father-in-law, Lino and Elena Giammarco. He is also survived by his sister-in-law, Denise D'Amico; brothers-in-law, Arnold Giammarco and his wife Sharon and Peter Giammarco and his fiancée Susan, as well as several nieces, nephews, extended family members and friends, both in the U.S. and in Italy. Funeral services will leave Saturday, (March 26, 2011) at 9:15 a.m. from the D'Esopo Funeral Chapel, 277 Folly Brook Blvd., Wethersfield for a 10 a.m. Mass of Christian Burial at St. James Church, 767 Elm St., Rocky Hill, Entombment will follow in Mt. St. Benedict Cemetery, Bloomfield. Family and friends may call TODAY from 4-8 p.m. at the funeral chapel. Michael's family wishes to thank Dr. John Papandrea and Dr. Bimalin Lahiri and their staff for their care and compassion. In lieu of flowers, donations in Michael's memory may be made to the American Lung Association of CT, 45 Ash Street, East Hartford, CT 06108. For online expressions of sympathy to the family, please visit www.desopo.com.