Loretta P. (DelCanto) Rice

Loretta P. (DelCanto) Rice, 89, of East Hartford, loving wife for over 61 years to the late David P. Rice, PE, peacefully was reunited with her husband in heaven with her caring family by her side at her home on Thursday, July 27, 2023. Born in Hartford on April 6, 1934, a daughter of the late Joseph and Madeline (Baldo) DelCanto, she had been a resident of East Hartford for the past 66 years. She was a graduate of Weaver High School in Hartford, class of 1952. A devout catholic, Loretta was a faithful communicant of Our Lady of Peace Church in East Hartford where she was a regular attendee at the daily mass and a member of the church Retiree’s Club. She was a member of the Red Hatter’s of East Hartford and the East Hartford Women’s Club where she met several friends and gave back to the community. She was an avid reader who belonged to book clubs and enjoyed taking weekly lessons in floral design. She was also a former season ticket holder and fanatic fan of the UConn Women’s Basketball team. Over the past seven years, Loretta looked forward to her Friday night dinners with the Widow’s Club. Most of all, Loretta was a gentle woman who took pride in being a home maker, a devoted wife, proud mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother in supporting her family at their sporting events and school activities.

Loretta is survived by three daughters, Madeline A. Bacon and her husband Jim of Londonderry, NH, Patricia M. Doty and her husband Ray of Lawton, OK, Ann Marie Marino of East Hartford with whom she made her home; and a son, David P. Rice and his wife Mary Frances of Bristol. She also leaves ten special grandchildren, Melanie West and her husband Zach West, Lisa Williams, Michael Shane Marino, Brian Williams and Yolimar Rivera, James Bacon and his wife Katie, Devon Marino, Jeff Bacon, Cody Marino, Denae Addington and her husband Jonathan, and Tanner Doty; twelve adored great-grandchildren, Elijah, Meila, Jack, Jonathan, James, Micah, Caleb, Molly, Natalie, Max, Jaxson, and Autumn; a brother, Joseph DelCanto and his partner Linda Reinhart of Port Saint Lucie, FL; a sister-in-law, Mary Bridget (Donovan) Rice of East Hartford; several dear nieces, nephews, cousins, and beloved friends. In addition to her husband and parents, Loretta was predeceased by a brother and his wife, Anthony and Marge DelCanto of Sarasota, FL.

Funeral service will be Tuesday (August 1, 2023) at 10:30 am from the D’Esopo East Hartford Memorial Chapel, 30 Carter Street, East Hartford with a Mass of Christian Burial celebrated at 11 am at Our Lady of Peace Church of St. Edmund Campion Parish, 370 May Road, East Hartford. Burial will follow at Mount Saint Benedict Cemetery, (St. Anthony section), Bloomfield. Relatives and friends may call at the funeral home chapel on Tuesday morning from 9:30 am to 10:30 am. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Loretta’s name may be made to the East Hartford Women’s Club Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 380401, East Hartford, CT 06138-0401 or the Boys & Girls Club of Hartford, 170 Sigourney Street, Hartford, CT 06105. For on-line expressions of sympathy to the family, please visit www.desopoeh.com.