Agnese Basile

1938 - 2025

Agnese Basile
1938 - 2025
Springfield
Agnese (Montefusco) Basile, 87, was born on November 1, 1938 in Bracigiliano, Italy. The eldest of four, of the late Nicola & Rosina (Leone) Montefusco, she immigrated to Springfield in 1956 shortly after marrying her husband Francesco "Frankie" Basile.
Agnese worked for many years in the garment industry of Springfield before her two children were born. Once they began school, she started working at Santi's Restaurant where she quickly became known for her Italian dishes, among them pasta e fagioli and tortellini soup, which garnered her a loyal following. She remained at Santi's for over 30 years until the restaurant was sold.
When Agnese became a grandmother she relished feeding her grandchildren her many Italian specialties. Amongst the other things she enjoyed was making food for the Mt. Carmel Society annual festivals alongside her now deceased cousin Carmela DeCaro; selling homemade tortellinis to friends and neighbors and most of all making them with her grandchildren; each of whom have these special memories.
Agnese and Frankie were married for 56 years until his death in 2012. They enjoyed gardening together and canning their abundance of produce. When she retired from Santi's, she enjoyed taking trips to numerous European cities with Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church where she was a lifelong member. Most of all she enjoyed her grandchildren, many friends and family.
She is survived by her daughter Annamaria Basile, son Freddy Basile & wife Celeste, sister Anna DeCaro & children, brother John Montefusco & children, beloved sister-in-law Teresa Montefusco & children, cousin Nick Albano, grandchildren Paul, Devin, Christopher, Sophia & Gabriel, and great-grandson Nathaniel.
A special thank you to her caregivers, Marcia Al Mistarihi, Juanita Diaz and Jacqueline Sanchez who took great care of Agnese loving her like their own mother, and to her "million dollar" neighbor Jennifer Collins.
A private graveside ceremony at St. Michael's Cemetery will be at a later date.
Please consider a memorial contribution to Jewish Family Service of Western Mass. A group very important to her family. JFS helps immigrants and refugees settle into a new life. As both Agnese and Frankie were immigrants welcomed by Springfield in 1956, they believe in paying it forward and ask that we all continue to help in welcoming immigrants.
JFS W. MA, 15 Lenox St., Springfield, MA 01108, or at JFSWM.org.
For condolences please visit TazziniFuneralHome.com.