Clare (costello) Grillo

Clare (Costello) Grillo, 88, of West Hartford, wife of the late Lucien Grillo for 56 years, passed away peacefully on Saturday, (December 12, 2009,) with her family by her side at the Newington Health Care Center. Born March 1, 1921 in Walpole, MA, daughter of the late Joseph and Olympia (D'Ambrosio) Costello, Clare lived in West Hartford for most of her life. She attended Morse School of Business and worked at her uncle's construction company before marrying the love of her life. After raising four children, she was employed at Fabric Fair, then 3-D Bed and Bath at Corbin's Corner. Clare lived a wonderful Christian life, donating her time, talent and treasure to always benefit others. She was President of the Young Italian-American Auxiliary in Hartford, President of VFW M.O.C.A. of East Hartford, and Chairman for Cancer Aided Research at the VFW Glastonbury Post. One of her proudest achievements was teaching 2nd Grade CCD religious instruction at St. Peter Claver Church in West Hartford for 35 years. Clare had a great sense of humor, was an avid gardener and loved to cook, and there was always a place at her table for everyone. Throughout her retirement, she volunteered for Meals on Wheels, and called bingo at the Elmwood Senior Center. She crocheted and donated afghans to the Aids Project of Hartford for over ten years. In fact, Clare has crocheted over 200 afghans for family, friends and charities. Clare leaves her four children, Marie of West Hartford, 'Gypsy' Joe of West Hartford, Frank and his wife Gail Ferris of Cromwell, and Lucien and his life partner Michael Villeneuve of Vernon; five grandchildren, John Grillo and his wife Keisha Johnson of Washington, DC, Michael Grillo of West Hartford, Charlie Grillo of Cromwell, Katie Grillo of Hartford, and Joseph Grillo Jr. of Rushville, IN; three step-grandchildren, John, Daniel andTravis Boone of Bulverde, TX, and one great-grandchild Jack Grillo of New Britain; and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. Besides her husband, Clare was predeceased by her brothers, Charles Costello of Bloomfield and Frank Costello, of North Conway, NH; sisters, Irene Zahner of Walpole, MA, Mary Vozzella of Franklin, MA, and Josephine Dunn of Largo, FL and one step-sister Ruth Gnatek of Massachusetts. Calling hours are Wednesday, December 16, from 4-7 p.m. and Thursday, from 8:45-9:15 a.m., at the D'Esopo Funeral Chapel, 277 Folly Brook Blvd., Wethersfield. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in St. Peter Claver Church, 47 Pleasant St., West Hartford, on Thursday, at 10 a.m. Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery, West Hartford. Donations in Clare's memory may be made to the Newington Health Care Center, 240 Church St., Newington, 06111. For on line expressions of sympathy please visit www.desopo.com.