Joseph S. Coco

1922 - 2015

Joseph S. Coco, 93, of Wethersfield passed away on March 6, 2015. Joseph was born on February 12, 1922, in Floridia, Sicily. He was the eldest of five children of Sebastiano and Santina Coco. When Joe was 5 years old, his family immigrated to the United States and made their home in Winsted, CT where he attended St. Joseph School. He worked as a grocery store clerk where he demonstrated his sharp math abilities when he was only 9 years of age. Joe and his family moved to Front Street in Hartford where many other Italian immigrants had also settled. He graduated from Hartford High School and remained in the Hartford area for most of his life. Joe loved this country and was grateful for all of the opportunities it afforded him and his family. He proudly served in the 43rd division of the Army in WWII and earned a Bronze Star for his active duty in the Philippines. Upon his return, he became a small business owner operating newsstands, parking lots, and a grinder shop for many years. His affinity for and proficiency of numbers led him to a career as a highly successful stockbroker for nearly 50 years. Throughout his life, he was an avid dancer and a voracious reader, and he especially enjoyed history, politics, the New York Yankees and Italian food. Joe belonged to the Hartford "East Side Boys" club and always looked forward to the monthly social meetings with members who have known each other since childhood. Joe was an active member of St. Luke's Parish for several years. He will be greatly missed by his six children and their spouses: Nannette Coco and Karlyn Sturmer, Sandra Ganley, Kenneth and Ellen Coco, Angela Coco, Elaine and Matt Dunie, and Sherry Coco. Joe loved his nine grandchildren who affectionately called him "Nunu": Christopher, Kathryn and Maggie Coco; Robert, Andrew and Adam Ganley; and Nicholas, Rachel and Samantha Dunie. He also leaves a loving sister Sally Horan, and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends to mourn his loss. He was predeceased by his siblings Tina Rafala, Rose Turner and Nataleno Coco. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday, March 10 at 10 a.m. at St. Luke Church, 66 Bolton St., Hartford, CT 06114. Everyone is asked to go directly to the church. Burial with military honors will follow in Mount Saint Benedict Cemetery, Bloomfield. His family will receive relatives and friends at D'Esopo Funeral Chapel, 277 Folly Brook Blvd., Wethersfield, on Monday, March 9 from 4 to 7 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. Luke Church. To share a memory of Joe with his family, please visit www.desopo.com.