Emily Monaco

Emily (Diana) Monaco, 77, of Wethersfield, beloved wife of 58 years to Fernando “Frank” Monaco, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by her loving family on Thursday, June 11, 2026 after a courageous battle with ALS. Born in Hartford on September 1, 1948, she was the daughter of the late Anthony Diana, Sr. and Marian (Rinaldo) Diana. Emily graduated from Mount St. Joseph Academy in West Hartford in 1966 and worked in the insurance industry for more than 20 years, where she made some of her lifelong friends.

Her family was her top priority, and she took great pride in caring for her grandchildren who loved going to “Nana’s School.” She was a devoted daughter, providing outstanding care for her mother-in-law and parents who lived with her and her husband in Wethersfield. Emily loved reading and spending time in prayer.

She was a communicant, Eucharistic Minister and member of the Women’s Club at the Church of the Incarnation for many years. Emily and Frank were honored recipients of the St. Joseph’s Medal of Appreciation presented by the Archbishop of Hartford on April 17, 2016.

A loving wife, mother and grandmother, Emily will be forever missed by her devoted husband Fernando; her two children, Tina (Monaco) St. Pierre of Wethersfield and Donato Monaco and his wife Juliet of Cromwell and her four adored grandchildren who brought her so much joy and happiness, Gabriella, William and Emilia St. Pierre and Gianna Monaco. She is also survived by her brother, Anthony Diana, Jr. and his wife Ina of Mebane, NC; her sister-in-law Cathy Diana of Rocky Hill; her brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Livia (Monaco) and Frederick Caserta of Newington, Giulian “Ezio” and Anna Monaco of Glastonbury; Carlo “Dino” and Elizabeth Monaco of Rocky Hill, as well as many dear cousins, nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, extended family members and dear friends. In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her father-in-law and mother-in- law, Donato and Maria Monaco, and her brother, Vincent Diana.

Emily’s family would like to express their heartfelt and sincere gratitude to Selta Francis for her constant, compassionate, gentle and affectionate care. We would also like to thank Andrew, Courtney and the entire staff of Hartford Healthcare at Home, as well as Doctors Votto and Felice together with their nurses and ALS team members at the Hospital for Special Care in New Britain.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday, June 18 at 10 a.m. at the Church of the Incarnation of Christ the King Parish, 544 Prospect Street, Wethersfield. Everyone is asked to please go directly to the church. Entombment will follow in Mt. St. Benedict Cemetery, Bloomfield. The family will receive relatives and friends on Wednesday from 4-7 p.m. at the D’Esopo Funeral Chapel, 277 Folly Brook Boulevard, Wethersfield. In lieu of flowers, donations in Emily’s memory may be made to ALS United CT, 99 Hawley Lane, Suite 403, Stratford, CT 06614 www.ALSUnitedCT.org To share a memory of Emily, please visit www.desopofuneralchapel.com