Vera Silvestri

Vera Silvestri 96, of Wethersfield, passed away peacefully in her home surrounded by family on Friday, October 11th, 2024. She was the beloved wife of ther late Emidio A. Silvestri for 36 years. Vera was born January 14, 1928, in Popoli, Italy, and was the daughter of the late Ignazio and Anna (Finocchi) Santoro.

Vera was a devoted Mother, Nonna, and Great Grand Mother. She is survived by her son Pelino Silvestri and daughter-in-law Deborah (Vladenides) Silvestri of Colchester, her daughter Nancy (Silvestri) Martel and her son-in-law Michael Martel of Bristol, , her grandchildren, Justin Silvestri of Marlborough,, Amy (Silvestri) Kolaczenko and her husband Alex Kolaczenko of Colchester, Danielle (Martel) Felizardo and her husband Matthew Felizardo of Attleboro MA, and Sarah Martel of Bristol, her great grand-son James Pelino Kolaczenko, her sister-in-law Maria (Valeri) Santoro of Medford, MA, Elaine (Rydzewski) Santoro of New Hartford, as well as many nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews in the USA and Italy.

Vera was preceded in death by four sisters, Agatha (Santoro) Zaino, and her husband Gioacchino Zaino, Lidia (Santoro) D’Amato and her husband Albert D’Amato, Maria (Santoro) Scalora and her husband Gaspare Scalora, and Maria Santoro; three brothers, Gabriele Santoro and his wife Antoniette (DeSimone) Santoro, Guido Santoro, and Bruno Santoro; her brother and sister-in-law’s, Erminio and Lucy Giovannucci, Guido and Dolores Silvestro, Cesidio and Jeanne Sylvestro, and Cesidia Silvestri.

Vera was a teenager in Popoli, Italy as World War II unfolded. The family and friends survived by seeking refuge in the less populated, mountainous region of Abruzzi where she helped to care for her younger siblings.

Vera was proud of her Italian heritage. She later immigrated to the United States in 1955. She attended school at night to learn the English language, and was proud to earn her status as a Naturalized U.S. Citizen.

Vera was initially employed as a switch maker by Carling Manufacturing / now known as Carling Technologies Inc. It was during this time she met the love of her life Emidio Silvestri. The couple married in 1958 and remained happily married until Emidio’s death in 1994. Vera was later self-employed as a seamstress assisting her brothers Gabriele and Bruno as they launched a dry-cleaning business. She was also employed by Travelers in the Housekeeping Department, West Hill and Elm Hill Convalescent Homes (concurrently), and by the State of Connecticut Veterans Home and Hospital as a Certified Nursing Assistant where she cared for the wellbeing of residents and our Veterans. She approached each position with the same dedication and work ethic she learned as a child, and along with her husband Emidio, passed on to their children.

After a long meaningful career caring for others, Vera eventually retired from the State of Connecticut in 1988.

Vera never stopped caring for others. Her time was now spent supporting her children, grandchildren, great grandson, extended family and friends. We will miss our mom dearly for the good person she was and for the countless family gatherings and memories she created around the dining room table of her home. We will especially miss sharing meals of homemade pasta, sauce, gnocchi, and especially pizza with mom! With great humility, she passed along many of the traditions and values that were important to her so they could continue to be passed on to future generations of our family. For this, we will be forever grateful.

Calling hours will be Friday, October 18 from 9:15 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. at the D’Esopo Funeral Chapel, 277 Folly Brook Boulevard, Wethersfield followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:30 a.m. in Corpus Christi Church of Christ the King Parish, 601 Silas Deane Highway, Wethersfield. Interment will be in Rose Hill Memorial Park, Rocky Hill. The family requests in lieu of flowers, you may choose to donate to the Alzheimer’s Association, 200 Executive Blvd S #4b, Southington, CT 06489. To share a memory of Vera with her family, please visit www.desopofuneralchapel.com