Oscar J. Laraia

1925 - 2015

Oscar J. "Pat" Laraia, 89, of Wethersfield, loving husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend to many, passed away peacefully on Thursday, March 5, 2015 following a long seven year battle with congestive heart failure. Born in Hartford on July 17, 1925, he was the son of the late Antonio and Rose (Montano) Laraia. Pat was a proud WW II disabled veteran who served in combat in the U.S. Army in Normandy as a Platoon Sergeant from 1943 to 1946. He was owner of Laraia's Market in Hartford from 1946-1948. He later became President and owner of Arrow Window Shade in Meriden, which he ran for 52 years. During his "fun time," Pat enjoyed all the time he spent with his family at his beach houses in Old Saybrook and Westbrook, as well as the many drives in his antique Packard and dinners at the Log Cabin Restaurant in Clinton to visit his favorite waitress, Cindi. Later in life, he cherished the time spent riding in his golf cart at Cornfield Point with his Grandson Dario and watching him play football. Pat leaves behind the love of his life, his wife of 62 years, Rose; his sister, Marie Gionfriddo; his son, Robert A. Laraia and wife Lesa and their son, Dario. He is also survived by his nieces, Donna Gionfriddo, Celine and Jarlath Carbin and their children, Shane and Kieran; his sister-in-law, Patricia Toro and his grandson, Adrian Everett and his wife Kaethe and children Mason and Cassidy. In addition to his parents, Pat was predeceased by his brother-in-law, Frank Toro and his sister-in-law Amalia Toro. Pat and the family would especially like to thank the following; Dr. Carolyn Kosack for all the amazing care and compassion over the past seven years; his beloved nurse, Gina Corraccio, and the staff at Jefferson House Rehab in Newington, the Congestive Heart Failure team at St. Francis Hospital, and his longtime helper Roberto "Tito" Cardona. Funeral services will leave on Monday at 9:15 a.m. from the D'Esopo Funeral Chapel, 277 Folly Brook Blvd., Wethersfield for a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. at the Church of the Incarnation, 544 Prospect St. Burial will follow in Rose Hill Memorial Park, Rocky Hill. Family and friends may call on Sunday from 2-6 p.m. at the funeral chapel. Donations in Pat's memory may be made to Disabled American Veterans, 35 Cold Spring Road, Suite 315, Rocky Hill, CT 06067. To share a memory of Pat with the family, please visit www.desopo.com.