Annette Cerasole

Antoinette “Annette” Cerasole, 103, passed away peacefully on June 13, 2014, at Hughes Health and Rehabilitation in West Hartford, CT. Annette, the daughter of Joseph and Maria DePhillips of Corleto Perticari, Italy, was born and raised in the south end of Hartford where she spent many wonderful years with her 4 siblings and 7 Brancieri cousins…all under one roof!.. As the oldest in the family, Annette took on the role of family caretaker and maintained that role until her last years. She graduated from Hartford High School and became a life long learner, tackling Italian classes well into her 80’s. She was married to Anthony “Chap” Cerasole with whom she spent many wonderful and laugh filled years in their home in Wethersfield. Annette was the executive secretary to the head of the State Development Commission and took great pride in her work. In her spare time she was an accomplished tailor, gardener, and cook who enjoyed giving elaborate parties (usually in crazy costumes!). Unable to have children of their own, Annette and Chap lavished love and attention on their extended family of nieces and nephews. When her beloved Chap passed away at 60, Annette taught herself to drive and took on the task of being an independent, single modern woman. She was always fashionable and in style and loved to dance the night away at Wethersfield or Barry Street senior centers. She became an awesome baby sitter for “grand kids”. At the same time, she spent many long hours caring for sick friends whom she loved as family. She will be remembered as a generous, fun loving and feisty woman, who loved her family and was deeply loyal to her friends. Annette is survived by her sister Roccina Sapienza of New Hampshire. Her sister Rose Marie Edwards died on June 15, 2014. She was predeceased by her siblings Frank Dephillips and Prospero Dephillips of Wethersfield as well as two beloved friends, Bob Wayerd and Dan Bonamasso. The second mother to many, she will be missed by her niece Lori Coffin, her husband Brad and their children Mallory, Jared and Jason; her nephew Joseph DePhillips of Arlington, VA; her nephew Robert Edwards of Jupiter Florida and Falmouth, MA, his wife Karin, their children Liz Edwards of West Harford and Dan Edwards of Falmouth, MA , his wife Cathleen and their children Sam and Charlotte; her nephew Thomas Sapienza of New Hampshire, his wife Lisa and their children Marie, TJ and Meghan; her niece Pamela Toombs of NYC, her husband Norman and their children Courtney and Allison. She will be missed as well by her two remaining Brancieri cousins, Antoinette Comer of East Harford and Eleanor Murphy of Wethersfield and their families and by her dear friend Viola Hull of Wethersfield. A special thank you goes out to a dear friend, and honorary nephew, Vic D’Antonio, who brought joy to her last years through his regular visits (usually bearing ice cream and her McDonald hamburger). The family would like to thank the staff at the Hughes Convalescent Home for their caring and professional approach to elder care. The funeral for both Annette and Rose will be Saturday, June 21, at 9:15 a.m. from the Molloy Funeral Home, 906 Farmington Ave., with a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 a.m. at St. Thomas the Apostle Church, 872 Farmington Ave., West Hartford. Burial will follow in Mt. St. Benedict Cemetery, Bloomfield. Calling hours are Friday, June 20, from 5-7 p.m. at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the West Hartford or Wethersfield Food Banks. Online expressions of sympathy may be made at www.molloyfuneralhome.com