Antonio Pasquale Desiato

Antonio "Tony" Pasquale DeSiato, 90, of Mansfield, passed away peacefully surrounded by family Tuesday February 3, 2004 at Windham Hospital. He was born in Volturara Appula, Italy, to Felice and Maria Rosaria (Russo) DeSiato. In 1939 he married Maria Pasqualina Carusillo of Volturara Appula, Italy. Tony was a World War II Italian Army veteran and P.O.W. in a forced labor camp for more than 18 months in Germany. Tony came to America for a better life with his wife and daughters on December 13, 1954. He worked for the town of Mansfield for 9 years and as a mason for the University of Connecticut for 14 years. After his retirement, Tony enjoyed traveling with his wife on many senior citizen tours, he also loved working in his garden, his grapevines and fruit trees, making wine, playing cards, having friends over and spending time with his grandchildren and great grandchildren. He was predeceased by his wife Maria, his brother Dominick DeSiato and 11 other siblings in Italy. He leaves behind his 3 daughters, Maria Rosaria "Nina" DeFrancesco and her husband Joseph of Branford, Michelina "Mickey" DeSciscio of Mansfield and Maria Antonietta Chambers and her husband Thomas of Villa Park, IL, 8 grandchildren, Anna (DeSciscio) Chick, JoAnne (DeFrancesco) Allegra, Salvatore DeSciscio, Joseph DeFrancesco, Michael DeSciscio, Rosamaria (DeSciscio) McCall, Joshua Chambers, Thomas Chambers and 12 great grandchildren. His family will receive friends at the Potter Funeral Home, 456 Jackson St., Rte. 195, Willimantic on Thursday from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. There will be a gathering at the funeral home on Friday at 11:00 a.m. prior to the procession to his 12:00pm Funeral Mass at St. Mary's Church, 1600 Main St., Rte. 31, Coventry. Burial will follow in St. Joseph Cemetery, Windham. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. Mary's Church, 1600 Main St. Coventry, Ct. 06238. Please visit www.potterfh.com for directions and online memorial guestbook.