Michele Mike Orsini

Michele “Mike” Orsini, 77, beloved husband of Josephine (Nicotera) Orsini, passed away peacefully September 10, 2014 with his family by his side. Mike was born on March 28, 1937 in Sepino, province of Campobasso, Italy, son of the late Giuseppe and Maria Cristina (Vincenzo) Orsini. Mike immigrated to the United States in September 1956 and settled on Charles Street in Hartford’s old “East Side” and he was eager to work hard and begin his new life in America. He and Josephine married in November 1959, making their home on Wilson Street in Hartford, where they lived until they built and moved into their home in Wethersfield in 1968. While working full time and barring the language barrier, Mike attended A. I. Prince Technical School in the evenings, learning the electrical trade and earning his Masters Electrical License in 1963. He went on to own and operate Orsini Electric Service from 1963 to 1985. He then worked as an electrician for the Travelers Corporation from 1985 until his retirement in 2002, in addition he worked for the Wethersfield Board of Education as a part time electrician. In his younger days, Mike loved to dance, never missing the opportunity to do the tarantella or a good old fashioned polka. For many years he was a Ten Pin league bowler, his claim to fame was throwing the ball with such force he once broke the ball in half. Mike also liked playing bocce, building a regulation court in his backyard and there was the occasional friendly game of Scopa to be played. For many years, he enjoyed small game hunting with his friends and his pet beagles by his side. In his later years, he was a member of the Mt. Carmel - St. Cristina Society, attending their meetings and social events. Mike enjoyed tending to his grapevine and vegetable garden, especially his lemon and fig trees. Every fall he looked forward to making wine and every winter making homemade sausage and sopresata. Mike was a man who lived by the old school ethic where work came first, then the good times. And good times he did enjoy. Mike loved to share his wine with anyone that wanted a “taste” and he especially loved having family and friends surrounding the dinner table sharing a delicious meal and some laughs. Mike was especially thrilled with being a grandfather- that truly completed his life. His grandchildren meant everything to him and he never missed a game, recital, concert or awards ceremony for them. One of his favorite pastimes was decorating his house and yard during the Christmas season, where the goal was to use as many lights as possible. Mike was very proud when he became an American citizen in 1974, but his heart always remained passionate and proud of his Italian heritage, especially to his hometown of Sepino. Not only was he extremely devoted to Saint Cristina, the patron Saint of his town, he also was devoted to the Madonna Andollorata, the patron Saint of Pianopoli, where his wife is from. Besides his wife Pina, Mike leaves his daughter, Cristina Orsini Harris and Riccardo J. Boggio, Jr., his son Giuseppe “Joe” Orsini and his wife Patricia (Kelly) and his son Michael Orsini and his wife Kelly (McMullen). Mike will be especially missed by his six grandchildren who were his true joy; Audra Harris, Joseph “Lil Joey” Orsini, Alyssa Harris, Alexander “Alesandro Buddy” Harris, Michael “Lil Mikey” Orsini and John “Lil Johnny” Orsini. They love and will miss their Nonno very much. He leaves his sisters, Margherita Leone and Francesca Strong; sister-in-law, Rosa DePamphilis and her husband Victor, brother-in-law, Frank Nicotera and his wife Marilyn, along with many nieces and nephews and longtime close friends. Mike will also be missed by Michael J. Fischer, whom he considered his third son, and his longtime friend Carlo Simone. In addition to his parents, Mike was predeceased by his in-laws, Angelo and Angela Nicotera and by his Compare, Vincenzo Filippa. Mike’s family would like to thank the Nurses and CNAs of Aurora Health who cared for him and a special thank you to those who took the time to visit Mike during his struggle these past years.

Funeral services will begin on Monday at 9 a.m. from the D’Esopo Funeral Chapel, 277 Folly Brook Boulevard, Wethersfield followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. in the Church of the Incarnation, 544 Prospect Street, Wethersfield. Entombment will follow in Cedar Hill Cemetery, 453 Fairfield Avenue, Hartford. The family will receive relatives and friends on Sunday from 3-7 p.m. at the funeral chapel. Mike deeply valued education, so his family asks that donations in his memory be sent to Dollars for Scholars for a scholarship to be set up in his name. Please mail donations to Dollars for Scholars, P.O. Box 290338, Wethersfield, CT 06129-0338 (please indicate “For Michele “Mike” Orsini in the memo field of your check). For online expressions of sympathy to the family, please visit www.desopo.com.