Josephine Cessario

Josephine Cessario, 78, of East Hartford, passed away peacefully at home on Sunday February 2, 2014 surrounded by her family to join her late husband Vince in heaven who passed away in April 2012. Josephine was a loving wife for over 58 years, and a loving mother and grandmother who will be dearly missed. Her life was devoted to her husband and family who she passionately loved, protected and cherished so very much. She loved the holidays and all the get togethers at home and always welcomed her family with big hugs and kisses and a bountiful meal. Her family especially loved her Sunday pasta lunch, Friday night pizza, Saturday steaks, zucchini quiche and hard boiled eggs by the beach, sponge and whiskey cakes, chocolate chip cookies, biscotti, crunchy Italian bread, and making pastina for the kids. She also loved to garden, sew, sing songs, make wine with the family tell stories about her childhood, and recount old Italian fables. She also loved attending the many family events, spending time with her children and grandchildren, traveling the world with her husband but especially enjoyed watching her soap operas and visiting her childhood friends in Meriden CT. She loved her churches St. Augustine of Hartford and St. Rose of East Hartford. She was especially faithful to her Madonna Delle Grazie whose shrine is located in her hometown in Italy as well as St. Anthony, St. Joseph and St. John. She especially enjoyed her trip to Fatima and Lourdes with her late husband and friends Josephine and the late Bob Femia. She was born in San Giovanni di Gerace, province of Reggio Calabria, Italy on March 21, 1935. She left Italy at age 18 leaving behind her family to join her new husband in America sailing on the SS Andrea Doria. Pina & Vince started their new life together in the south end of Hartford later moving to a new home in East Hartford where she resided with her family for almost 40 years. She also worked as a seamstress at Coracci Dress Company in Hartford and at Manchester Modes. She was the daughter of the late Vincenzo and Maria Filomena (Pancallo) Papandrea; sister to the late Vincenzo Papandrea; sister-in-law to the late Giuseppina Papandrea and late Carmelo and Maria (Cessario) Letteri and Mario Giaconia. Josephine is survived by her daughter Anna Gauvin of Manchester; her two sons and daughters-in-law Vincent & Catherine Cessario of Burlington; Domenic & Rose Cessario of Coventry; her brother Domenico Papandrea of Milan Italy; brother-in-law and sister-in-law Giulio & Valentina Cessario of Rocky Hill; and sister-in-law Concetta Giaconia of Rocky Hill. Grandma loved her grandchildren with all of her heart and will be dearly missed by Eric & Michelle Gauvin, Daniel, Emily, Steven, Michael, Jennifer and Christina Cessario. She also leaves many nieces and nephews who she loved very much. The family especially thanks Lucy, Norma and Rosemarie for their gentle care and the MasonicCare Home Health & Hospice team for their kindness. Funeral services will be Friday (February 7th) at 9 am from the D'Esopo-East Hartford Memorial Chapel, 30 Carter Street, East Hartford with a Mass of Christian Burial celebrated at 10 am at St. Rose Church, 33 Church Street, East Hartford. Entombment will follow at St. Mary's Cemetery Mausoleum, Burnside Avenue, East Hartford. Relatives and friends may call at the funeral home chapel on Thursday (February 6th) from 3-7 pm. For on-line expressions of sympathy to the family please visit www.desopo.com.