Josephine L. DiPietro

Josephine (Lenares) DiPietro of Middletown passed away on December 22, 2023. Known to many as Grandma Jo and Nonni, she was happiest surrounded by friends and family. She was 94 years old. Josephine is predeceased by her loving husband of 55 years, Aldo, and her son, Vittorio Lucian. Her daughter-in-law survives her, Therese Marie DiPietro, as well as her granddaughter, Anna Maria Brancato (Anthony) of East Hampton and her grandsons, Nicholas Paul and Dakota James DiPietro of Middletown. The loves of her life were her three great-grandchildren, Aldo, Dorethea, and Michael. She would tell anyone who would listen how they called her “Nonni, Nonni, Nonni.” She spent many enjoyable hours with them, and they were a true source of joy to her to the very end. She is also survived by her brother-in-law, Lucian and sister-in-law, Joan DiPietro. She has several nieces and nephews who were all a large part of her life. She was born on April 7, 1929 in Canicattini Bagni, Italy, and immigrated to the U.S., where she met the love of her life, Aldo. Josephine met Aldo in 1959 when he needed a translator to figure out a bus fare. He borrowed 0.25 cents, and Aldo would often joke he was paying her back ever since. They wed on April 30, 1960. She worked and retired from Wiremold Inc. In 1992, they bought a home in Florida, and she and Aldo spent over 20 years wintering in Florida and summers with their grandchildren in CT. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She was a member of The Daughters of Canicattini Bagni. She loved to cook and bake and was known to make delicious feasts and cookies. The family would like to extend a special thank you to the staff of The Atria at Greenridge Place. After losing her beloved Vittorio in 2021, Josephine moved into The Atria, where she was active and well cared for by the tremendous staff. A very special thank you to longtime family friend, Nancy Leonard who helped to find her a spot at The Atria and in her last days ensured she was admitted to Water’s Edge, where she was gently cared for by their staff and Middlesex Hospital Hospice Home Care.

Funeral services will begin on Friday, December 29 at 8:15 a.m. at the D’Esopo Funeral Chapel, 277 Folly Brook Boulevard, Wethersfield followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 9:30 a.m. at St. Sebastian Church, 155 Washington Street, Middletown. Burial will be in Mt. St. Benedict Cemetery, Bloomfield. The family will receive relatives and friends on Thursday from 4-7 p.m. at the funeral chapel.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Josephine’s memory may be made to St. Vincent de Paul, P.O. Box 398, Middletown, CT 06457. To share a memory of Josephine, please visit www.desopofuneralchapel.com.