Born in Hartford on September 29, 1927, she was the daughter of the late Donato and Anna (Labalestro) Palagano and lived in the area all her life. “Millie” was an accountant at the State of CT Department of Transportation for many years. She was a faithful and devout communicant of St. Patrick-St. Anthony Church in Hartford and a founder, past President and life-long member of the Ladies’ Guild. We will always remember her words on love, “Don’t tell me, show me.” She was fiercely independent and loyal to family - stoic beyond words, generous to all, and a believer in Catholic education. Her strong faith sustained her through many trials, a faith she passed on to her family. “Nano” leaves her legacy of beach vacations, her fondest memories, with her family.
A loving mother and grandmother, she will be forever missed by her three children, Donald Tolisano and his wife, Kathleen of The Villages, FL, Irene “Rene” Fleming and her husband Peter J. of East Hartford and Annette T. Maruca and her husband Gary of South Windsor, and her five adored grandchildren, Heather Tolisano, Brian Tolisano and his wife Melissa, Abigail Maruca, Samara Maruca, and Mollie Fleming. She is also survived by several nieces, nephews and many extended family members. She was predeceased by her husband and her three sisters, Irene DiTommaso, Josephine D’Atri and Mary Gorman.
Funeral services will depart at 9am on Tuesday from the D’Esopo Funeral Chapel, 277 Folly Brook Blvd., Wethersfield for a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 am at St. Patrick-St. Anthony Church, 285 Church St., Hartford. Burial will follow in Mt. St. Benedict Cemetery, Bloomfield. The family will receive relatives and friends on Monday from 4-7 pm at the funeral chapel.
Donations in Carmela’s memory may be made to the St. Patrick-St. Anthony, Ladies’ Guild scholarship fund, c/o St. Patrick-St. Anthony Church, 285 Church St., Hartford, CT 06103
To share a memory of Carmela with her family, please visit www.desopofuneralchapel.com.
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