Albert N. Marano

Mr. Albert N. Marano, age 89, of Pearl Lake Road, passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family on Wednesday, June 1, 2011, at VITAS Hospice of St. Mary's Hospital. He was the husband of the late Angeline D. (Viotti) Marano. Mr. Marano was born on May 18, 1922 in the town of "Sant' Angelo in Grotte" in the Province of Isernia (Molise region), Italy; son of the late Rocco and Maria Antonia (Mucciarone) Marano. Al arrived in the United States on June 29, 1939, at age 17, traveling on the Italian liner, "SS Rex," one of the fastest ships in the world. He briefly lived in Franklin, before settling in Waterbury after he served with the U.S. Army's 98th Infantry "Iroquois" Division during World War II. He worked as a tool setter at Scovill Manufacturing after serving in the military, and then graduated from the National School of Meat Cutting in 1947. He purchased his own market, Al's Quality Market, Naugatuck, in 1949, which was destroyed during the Flood of 1955. In 1956, he and two partners, Nick Iannone and Tony Pisani, opened Midway Meat Outlet, Cheshire, and were in business there until 1977. Subsequent to retiring from his business, he worked for Stop & Shop, and as a manager at Pik-Kwik in Watertown. During his retirement, he volunteered for many years as an aide to the Chaplain, Rev. A. Andrew Ventresca, at the Cheshire Correctional Institution. He was a communicant of St. Francis Xavier Church and a member of Leonardo da Vinci Lodge #66 Sons of Italy. Al enjoyed gardening, golf, cooking, and watching New York Yankees baseball. He was regarded by many to have made the best Italian sausage they had ever tasted, which came from a 100-year-old family recipe. His biography is featured in the book, "Growing Up Italian and American in Waterbury." Above all, Al was a devoted family man, and always made his family his priority. Al is survived by his sons Dr. Albert R. Marano and his wife Ellen of Watertown, John D. Marano and his wife Denise of Waterbury, and Judge Richard M. Marano and his wife Eileen of Oxford; his grandchildren, Officer Kevin M. Marano, Jill C. Marano, Albert G. Marano, Emily Marano, William Marano, Michelle A. Marano, Richard M. Marano, Jr., and Christine L. Marano. He also leaves his sister, Rose Carlucci of Franklin, his sister-in-law, Pearl J. Mancuso of Waterbury as well as several nieces, nephews and cousins. He is predeceased by his grandson, John J. Marano and his sister, Maria C. Mucciarone. The Marano family would like to thank Dr. Jega and his staff, as well as the nurses and staff at VITAS Hospice of St. Mary's Hospital for the extraordinary and compassionate care provided to him during his stay. A funeral will be held on Saturday, June 4, 2011, at 8:30 a.m., from Maiorano Funeral Home, 95 Willow St., Waterbury to St. Francis Xavier Church for a Mass at 9:30 a.m. Burial with full military honors will follow in Calvary Cemetery. Family and friends may call at the funeral home on Friday evening from 4-8 p.m. Memorial contributions in Al's name may be made to St. Mary's Hospital Foundation, 56 Franklin St., Waterbury, CT 06706, St. Francis Xavier Church, 625 Baldwin St., Waterbury, CT 06706, or to the Greater Waterbury Boys & Girls Club's Angeline D. Marano Scholarship Fund, 1037 East Main St., Waterbury, CT 06705. For more information or online condolences, please visit www.maioranofuneralhome.com.