Maria Rosa (Catricalá) Conaci

Maria Rosa (Catricalá) Conaci beloved wife of Domenico Conaci of South Windsor died at home on Sunday April seventeenth after a courageous struggle with ovarian cancer. She was born in Girifalco, Catanzaro, Italy on March 24, 1934 to Tommaso and Angiolarosa (Rijillo) Catricalá. Maria is survived by her children, Frank Conaci, Salvatore Conaci and Maria Chase, along with her husband Jim. She is also survived by four grandchildren, Brian Conaci and his wife Margerita; Michael Conaci and his wife Heather; Kevin Conaci and Joseph Conaci, along with four great grandchildren, Tianna, Bret, Kyleigh and Michael. Maria is also survived by two brothers, Vincenzo and Antonio, along with his wife Latizia; her sisters-in-law, Barbara Quaresima and Angela Conaci of Rocky Hill, Maria Destefani and Paula Conaci of South Windsor; and Caterina Giampa, along with her husband Domenico of Girifalco, and her brother-in-law Salvatore Conaci, also of Girifalco. Maria was predeceased by her brother, Rocco Catricalá and his wife Elizabeth; sisters-in-law, Illuminata Zalmieri, Angela Conaci and Barbara Catricala; brothers-in-law, Rocco Conaci, Antonio Conaci along with his wife Alyce, Francesco Conaci, Giuseppe Destefani, and Giuseppe Quaresima.

Maria emigrated from Italy in 1955 with her husband Domenico and her son Frank. After settling in Hartford, Maria and Domenico raised Frank and two more beautiful children, Salvatore and Maria. She was employed as a seamstress before going to work at ROYTYPE for 17 years. She was devoted to her family, extended family, and friends. Maria was often in the kitchen making some of the best pasta and homemade sauce dishes this side of Italy. Whenever anyone would visit, even to just say hi, Maria would welcome them with a plate of whatever was on the stove. After making sure they were fed, she always sent visitors off with a basket of food and desserts. When she wasn't cooking, Maria was helping her husband in the garden or taking care of the chickens and rabbits, along with the family dog and cats-especially Bicana. She worked hard but there was always time for love. She will be very sadly be missed by all who knew her.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Friday (April 22) at 10 a.m. at St. Augustine’s Church, 10 Campfield Ave., Hartford. Everyone is asked to please go directly to the church. Burial will follow in Rose Hill Memorial Park, Rocky Hill. Family and friends may call on Thursday from 4-7 p.m. at the D’Esopo Funeral Chapel, 277 Folly Brook Blvd., Wethersfield. The family greatly appreciates the care provided to Maria by the nurses of the Helen & Harry Gray Cancer Center, along with the nurses and aides of the hospice team. In lieu of flowers, please consider sending a memorial contribution to either the

Helen & Harry Gray Cancer Center, 85 Retreat Avenue, Hartford, CT 06106-2555 or the Hand of Hope Program, Care of Joyce Meyer Ministries, Post Office Box 655, Fenton, MO 63026-0655. To share a memory of Maria with her family, please visit www.desopo.com.