Giuseppa "Josephine" Lamonica

Giuseppa “Josephine” (Magnano) Lamonica, 96, of Manchester, passed away peacefully at her son’s home on Sunday, November 21, 2021. This was her home for the last few years of her life. She was born on October 2, 1925, in Belvedere, Sicily; the place she called home for 30 years. Giuseppa was the daughter of the late Salvatore and Marietta (Celia) Magnano. She married the love of her life, Girolamo “Jerry” Lamonica, to whom she was married to for 58 years. They immigrated to the United States in 1955 with their three children, and lived in Hartford for the first few years. She and her family then moved to East Hartford, where she spent most of her life. She worked for Royal Typewriter, Silver Lane Pickle Company and Coca Cola Factory, but her greatest work was arguably in the kitchen. She was renowned to many for her exceptional culinary skills, cooking her famous sauce, banada, pizza and cutlets, just to name a few. Her beloved family and many friends were always welcome in her home and never left hungry.

Giuseppa leaves behind her loving children, Filomena Lamonica and husband Walter Kregelstein of Pompano Beach, Florida and Sergio Lamonica and wife Emelea of Manchester. She also leaves behind five adoring grandchildren: Michael Quinn, Donna Quinn, Cheryl Lawhun, Rhiannon Scioscio, and Cherie Fakas. She will be missed dearly by her many great grandchildren, nephews, nieces and cousins as well, who were blessed to have had her in their lives. She truly loved watching all of her grandchildren grow and play, and they loved her right back. She will be deeply missed by all of her family and friends.

In addition to her parents, Giuseppa is predeceased by her husband, Jerry Lamonica; her daughter, Anna Maria Borysciewicz; her grandson, Richard Buttero and her brothers and sister in Sicily. Giuseppa was truly proud of her Sicilian heritage and loved visiting Franklin Avenue, Hartford regularly to enjoy her favorite treats from her home country. At home, when she wasn’t cooking, she loved listening and singing along to her favorite songs, caring for her beautiful roses, and watching professional wrestling; she knew all the wrestlers by name. She loved to wrap herself up in a blanket and enjoy her favorite American soap operas. The “Bold and the Beautiful” was one of them, and rightly so. Josephine was both bold and beautiful. Aside from her beloved home, she also felt at home with her toes in the sand on the Rhode Island shore. She spent many beautiful summer days with her family enjoying the “Bella Mare”. We would be remiss without sharing our deepest gratitude for the loving care of her wonderful caretaker, Justina Antwi and the compassionate care of the Hartford Health Hospice team, who allowed her to be comfortable in her final days.

Calling hours and a celebration of Giuseppa's life will be held on Monday, November 29 from 5-7 p.m at the D'Esopo East Hartford Memorial Chapel, 30 Carter Street, East Hartford. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Tuesday, November 30 at 10 a.m. at St. Christopher's Church, 538 Brewer Street, East Hartford. Everyone is asked to go directly to church. Burial will follow in Hillside Cemetery, East Hartford. To share a memory of Giuseppa with her family, please visit www.desopoeh.com.