Mr. Martin Joseph DeFazio Sr.

Prospect – Mr. Martin Joseph DeFazio, Sr., 68, husband of Diane (Russo) DeFazio, passed away Saturday December 19, 2015 at Waterbury Hospital. He was born March 15, 1947 in Waterbury, a son to the late Michael and Caroline (Gimelli) DeFazio. Mr. DeFazio, Marty, lived his life with passion and shared his knowledge of the things he loved freely to all who wanted to listen. He taught in the Waterbury Public School System at Hopeville Elementary School and West Side Middle School. Marty was also an Assistant Coach to the Holy Cross Mens Basketball team. He was a dedicated husband, father, grandfather, and a great friend to many. Marty was an outdoorsman who enjoyed hunting and fishing. Some knew him as a golfer, many as a carpenter, but Marty was most widely known as a winemaker and gardener. He established the "DeFazio Farm" raising chickens and rabbits (among other things) while maintaining an expansive vegetable garden. In addition to his wife Diane, Mr. DeFazio will be dearly missed by his sons: Ronald DeFazio and his wife, Alana, of Naugatuck and Martin DeFazio, Jr. and his wife Danielle of Prospect; a sister, Carol Minicucci and her husband, John, of Waterbury; and his Grandchildren: Skylar, Jaxson, Jacob, Abigail, Thomas and "Peanut." Mr. DeFazio's funeral will be held on Monday December 28, 2015 at 9:30 a.m. from the Prospect Memorial Funeral Home, 72 Waterbury Road, Prospect to St. Anthony Roman Catholic Church, 4 Union City Road, Prospect for a mass at 10:00 a.m. Burial will be at the convenience of the family. Calling hours will be held at the funeral home on Sunday December 27, 2015 from 2:00 -5:00 p.m. Memorial contributions in honor of Mr. DeFazio may be made to the V Foundation for Cancer Research, 106 Towerview Court, Cary, N.C. 27513. To leave an online condolence, please visit http://www.prospectmemorial.com