Emilia Gaetani

Emilia Gaetani, 88 of Wethersfield, beloved wife of the late Donato Gaetani, was taken into the Glory of Heaven and embraced in love by our Divine Lord Jesus Christ and the Blessed Mother on March 7, 2018 surrounded by her loving and devoted family. Emilia was born on August 20, 1929 in Sepino, province of Campobasso, Italy. She was the daughter of the late Giuseppe and Filomena (D’Anello) Gaetani. Emilia immigrated to the United States with her brother Luigi on October 27, 1949 at the age of 20. She left behind her mother, father, and youngest brother, to begin a new life in a foreign land. Shortly after her arrival, Emilia attended night school to learn English. She worked as a seamstress at the Coracci dress factory and later at the G. Fox & Co. department store until 1961. When her mother died unexpectedly in 1951, Emilia returned to her hometown with her brother Luigi where they were reunited with her youngest brother Donato. Emilia met her late husband Donato Gaetani, also from Sepino, upon her arrival in Hartford. He returned to their hometown to ask for her hand in marriage in 1953, where they married on April 30 of that same year. When they returned to the U.S., Emilia decided to move together with her family, brothers and father to the West End of Hartford in 1960 and they lived together there in a three-family home for the next 20 years. After the death of her husband in 1976, Emilia and her brothers eventually moved to Wethersfield in 1983, where they continued to live together as the “Three Musketeers”, as most would come to call them. Over the years, we and others witnessed an amazing example of a profound sibling love and bond that was truly unique and inspiring. This deep love continues to be the foundation by which we live our lives. Emilia was a beautiful soul with a loving and generous heart. She had a passion for cooking and baking, and has passed on many of these Italian traditions over the years. Most of all, she had the remarkable talent of crocheting exquisitely designed doilies of exceptional beauty. Emilia also had the gift of storytelling; recounting stories to everyone she encountered along her path of the old days in Italy and about her town’s patron saint Santa Cristina. Most of all, she had an amazing memory and could recite hundreds of poems and proverbs that she learned in Italy as a young girl. If you had the opportunity to know or meet Emilia, you’d be sure she’d share with you one special proverb with a significant meaning for you. What stood out above all is that she was a woman of tremendous faith. She said the rosary faithfully every day of her life. She loved and trusted the Lord and had a special devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Emilia leaves behind her devoted and loving daughters, Maria Concetta “Connie” Peluso of Rocky Hill and Filomena Francesca Marinelli and her husband Eugene of Wethersfield. Emilia was predeceased by her youngest brother Donato Gaetani in 2016 and leaves behind her middle brother Luigi Gaetani. Emilia also leaves behind her cherished grandchildren Emily Peluso LeMire and her husband Robert of Killingworth; Mark Peluso and his fiancee’ Rebekah Parks of Cromwell; Liana, Anthony, Corinna and Sofia Marinelli and five great-grandchildren; Holden, Jamison, Sawyer, Emilia LeMire and Natalia Peluso. She also leaves behind her former son-in-law Pasquale Peluso with whom she maintained a loving relationship until her passing. In addition she leaves Luisa Maffucci, a dear friend of the family. She was a long-time member of the Mt. Carmel and St. Cristina Society and the St. Anthony Society of Hartford. Emilia’s family would like to thank all her doctors and medical professionals who provided her with exceptional care over the years. In particular we would like to thank Dr. Brett Duncan, her cardiologist, and Drs. John D’Avella and Alfred Vichot, her nephrologists, for their dedication and personal attention to her every need. We would also like to thank the staff at both the Hartford Infusion Center and Hartford Healthcare at Home. In particular, we would also like to thank her aid Rosa, who over the last several weeks offered her outstanding care and support. Above all, we want to recognize the unconditional love and care that her granddaughter and APRN Emily gave to her, which provided her immense comfort during her final months. Emilia will continue to inspire and guide us along our own journeys and we all await in longing anticipation to see her face again. Funeral services will begin on Monday at 10 a.m. from the D’Esopo Funeral Chapel, 277 Folly Brook Boulevard, Wethersfield followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 a.m. at the Church of the Incarnation, 544 Prospect Street, Wethersfield. Burial will follow at Mt. Saint Benedict Cemetery, Bloomfield. The family will receive relatives and friends on Sunday, from 2-6 p.m. at the funeral chapel. For online expressions of sympathy please visit www.desopo.com.