Maria Bruno

Maria (Casoni) Bruno, of Rocky Hill, loving wife of 65 years to Rodolfo “Rudy” Bruno, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, August 8, 2023. Born June 12, 1930, in Corniglio, Province of Parma, Italy, she was one of three children to the late Giuseppe and Delfina (Albertini) Casoni and lived in Polita, Italy. At 22 years old, alone and knowing no English, she immigrated to the United States to live with her father in Hartford. Maria was introduced, by a paesano, to the love of her life, Rudy. They got to know each other while walking to night school to attend English class. They married in 1958, lived in Hartford, and had two sons. In 1964, they realized their dream and built a house in Rocky Hill, where they have resided ever since. Maria found work in several manufacturing companies, always working the night shifts so she could be at home during the day to care for her boys. Maria was a selfless individual and put the needs of others before her own. She raised and cared for her own family in addition to dedicating a large part of her life to caring for her father-in-law and mother-in-law. She was an avid gardener, seamstress, phenomenal cook and baker. An amazing gardener, much of her yard was dedicated to raising a variety of vegetables, herbs, garlic and over a hundred tomato plants each year (many from seed). These were used for the many delicious dishes she made from her homemade pasta sauce to her Christmas Eve dinners including baccala and her one-of-a-kind stuffed calamari. She was known for making so many wonderful foods such as her bread, cavatelli, soups, phenomenal apple and blueberry pies, cheesecake and towering Italian cookies, which she made for every special occasion. One of her claims to fame was a YouTube video making her signature capicola. Her food was an extension of the love she had for her family, relatives and friends. Her other love was God and her faith, Maria was a devout Catholic, and attended church regularly.

Along with her husband Rudy, Maria will be deeply missed and forever in the hearts of her two sons, Paolo “Paul” Bruno with his partner Lisa Pagliaro of Broad Brook and Giuseppe “Joe” Bruno with his wife Laurie Ann of Wethersfield; four adored grandchildren: Michael Bruno, Victoria Heavener with her husband David Heavener, Joseph Bruno and Anthony Bruno; her sister-in-law, Rita Casoni of Boston; as well as many loving nephews, cousins, and dear friends. In addition to her parents, Maria was predeceased by her two brothers, Adelmo and Pietrino Casoni, and her daughter-in-law, Shirley Bruno.

The Bruno family will receive relatives and friends on Friday, August 11, from 4-7 p.m. at the D’Esopo Funeral Chapel, 277 Folly Brook Boulevard, Wethersfield. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, August 12 at 10 a.m. at the Church of the Incarnation of Christ the King Parish, 544 Prospect St., Wethersfield (Attendees are asked to go directly to the church). Interment will follow the Mass at Mt. St. Benedict Cemetery (Shrine of the Apostles Section), 1 Cottage Grove Rd., Bloomfield. In lieu of flowers, and in honor of her late daughter-in-law Shirley, please consider a donation to The ALS Association of CT. Donations can be made to: ALSA CT, 4 Oxford Road, Milford, CT 06460 or online at alsact.org. To extend online expressions of sympathy, please visit www.desopofuneralchapel.com.