Louis P. ARESCO

ARESCO, Louis P.


Louis P. Aresco, 70, of Portland, loving husband of Patricia (Shanahan) Aresco for 44 years, passed away peacefully at home with family on Thursday, (August 8, 2013). He was the son of the late Joseph and Frances Puglisi Aresco. Louis graduated from Middletown High School ('61), St. Michael's College (BA '65), and Hartford Connecticut State Technical College ('67). He joined Monarca, Aresco, & Mazzotta Inc. Construction Company in 1969 as a bricklayer. He later served as project foreman, superintendent and project manager. In 1988, he assumed the role of President of the business, and changed the name to Aresco Construction Company. In 2013, he turned control of the 66 year old family business over to his son, Joseph. During his time as President he was proud to have worked on many local municipal and private construction projects, including Middlesex Hospital, Middletown City Hall, and numerous local banks and schools. His kindness, concern for others, attention to details, respect for his employees and clients, and fair treatment of others led to the growth of the business under his tenure. It was in the same spirit that he lived his personal life with his family, friends, and beloved grandchildren, to whom "Papa" was the light of their eye. He served in the 76th Division United States Army Reserve Band, was a lifetime member of the Knights of Columbus, the IACO, the Elks Club, and served on the Board of Trustees of Mercy High School, which awarded him the Catherine McCauley Award in 2002 for his lifetime service to the school. He was a longtime member of St. Mary's Parish, Portland. He also enjoyed his years as a member of the Tuesday morning Men's Senior Golf League and Friday night couples golf leagues at Portland Golf Course. Having lived with cancer since 1995, he lived by the motto "it is what it is." His disease never stopped him from his work, golf, trips to Notre Dame, BC football games, winters spent in Naples, FL, working in his vegetable garden, or spending time with his friends and family. He firmly believed there is life after cancer diagnosis. Besides his wife Patricia, he is survived by his son, Joseph D. Aresco and his wife Angela of Portland; his daughter Jennifer Brennan and her husband Peter of Marblehead, MA; his sister Antonia Cubeta and her husband Angelo of Portland; his brother-in-law Robert Wimler, and his sister-in law Jeanne Cullinan. He also leaves behind his beloved grandchildren: Alysha Ledbetter, Devin and Josh Aresco, and Caroline and Patrick Brennan, as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts and close friends. He is predeceased by his sister, Ann Wimler, and brother-in-law Robert Cullinan. The family would like to thank Dr. Miklos Fogarasi and the Middlesex Cancer Center for their compassion and care during these many years of treatment.
Funeral services will be held Monday August 12, 2013 at 10 a.m. from Portland Memorial Funeral Home, 231 Main St., Portland with a Mass at 11 a.m. at St. Mary Church, 51 Freestone Ave., Portland. Burial will be in St. Mary Cemetery, Portland. Relatives and friends may call on Sunday from 4-8 p.m. at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donations be made to Mercy High School, 1740 Randolph Road, Middletown, CT 06457; Xavier High School, 181 Randolph Road, Middletown, CT 06457; St. Jude's Thadeus Shrine, 205 West Monrow Street, Chicago, IL 60606 (please note "for use of the Shrine); and the Middlesex Hospital Cancer Center, 536 Saybrook Road, Middletown, CT 06457. To send an online expression of sympathy, please visit www.portlandmemorialfh.net.