Michelina Filomena Zavarella

Michelina Filomena (Rossi) Zavarella, of Wethersfield, beloved wife of the late Davide Zavarella, passed away peacefully at home Friday, April 28, 2023 surrounded by her loving family. Michelina was born August 11, 1927 in Pratola Peligna, Province of Aquila, Italy, daughter of the late Nunzio and Assunta (Presutti) Rossi. Michelina grew up in Italy, she and Davide married, started a family, eventually immigrating to the US, settling off Franklin Avenue, in Hartford's Little Italy.

Michelina was truly the matriarch of the family, her family always trusted her guidance and wisdom. She was instrumental in helping her children pursue their careers by babysitting all of her grandchildren and was delighted they were in her care. A wonderful cook, her homemade pasta can never be duplicated and nothing gave her more pleasure than when her table was surrounded by her family and friends.

Michelina was also a wine maker in the family. Every fall she and her husband began the process together, then she took over, making sure it was aged to perfection. She made delicious pizzelle for many to enjoy and helped her husband make dried sausage.

Michelina will be sadly missed by her son, Emidio Zavarella and wife Anna, of Wethersfield, daughters Assunta Santilli and husband Remo, of Wethersfield, Nilla Motta and husband Joseph, of Rocky Hill and Maria Cormier and husband Roger, of Wethersfield, her beloved grandchildren, Rocco Santilli and his wife Rosanna, Michelina Dugas and her husband Michael, Anthony Santilli and his wife Dana, Donatella Tardif and her husband Nick, David Zavarella, David Santilli and fiancé Amanda Upton, Claudio Zavarella and his wife Kristen, Salvatore Motta, Remo Santilli and his wife Aneta, Luigi Zavarella and his wife Becky, Jeremy Cormier and his wife Emilia, Amanda Vinke and her husband Luis, Nicole Cormier and her dog "KeeKee" who used to keep Michelina company. She also leaves her cherished great-grandchildren, Brianna, Emelia, Gino, Fiona, Alyssa, Adam, Kendall, Riley, Madeline, Olivia, Nico, Lucas, Mackenzie, Gabriel, and Michelina. In addition, Michelina also leaves her nephews, Italo Rossi of Pratola Peligna and Enzo Rossi of Rome, and her dear friends, Nazzarena Carducci, who consistently called her every Sunday morning for decades, Olympia Antolini, along with many relatives and friends in Canada, Italy, and the US.

In addition to her husband and parents, Michelina was sadly predeceased by her precious great-grandson, Davide Tardif, stepbrother Antonio Rossi, nephew Giovanni DiNunno and sister-in-law Petronilla Zavarella, who both resided with her, as well as several nieces, nephews and family members from Italy and Canada.

Michelina's family would especially like to thank the many friends that took the time to visit with her and always bring her delicious treats to enjoy. In addition, a special thanks to Masonicare and their employees, who took such great care of her in her final months and days. Your kindness and compassion is very much appreciated and will never be forgotten.

The family will receive relatives and friends, Tuesday, May 2, 2023, from 9-11am at the D'Esopo Funeral Chapel, 277 Folly Brook Blvd, Wethersfield, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 12 noon in the Church of the Incarnation, 544 Prospect Street, Wethersfield. Interment will follow in Cedar Hill Cemetery (Section 27), 453 Fairfield Ave., Hartford. Memorial donations may be made to Masonicare Home Health & Hospice, 77 Hartland St., East Hartford, CT 06108. For online expressions of sympathy to the family, please visit www.desopofuneralchapel.com