Ettore Fusaro

WESTERLY - Ettore Fusaro, beloved husband for 53 years of Emilia (Francese) Fusaro, passed away peacefully at the Westerly Hospital on October 16, 2025 at the age of 79 after a long journey with dementia. Born in Acri, Italy, he was the son of the late Gennaro and Giulia Fusaro.

In addition to his loving wife, Emilia, he leaves behind three daughters, Gina and her husband Conrad, Nada and her husband Paul, and Maria and her husband Matt. He also leaves behind 7 cherished grandchildren, Lucia and Stella Leung, Peter, Flora and Alex Heredia, and Leo and Viviana Garadis.

Ettore is also survived by his beloved siblings Giuseppe (Maria) Fusaro, Giovanni (Elvira) Fusaro, Elvira (Rafaelle) DePiro, and Benita (Pasquale) Turano and sisters in-law Virginia Fusaro and Rosetta Chimento, as well as many beloved nieces and nephews.

Ettore was predeceased by three brothers, Angelo (Teresa), Pasquale, and Vincenzo Fusaro; his sister Rosa (Angelo Ferraro) and his granddaughter Maya Heredia.

Ettore was a longtime, devout communicant of St. Pius X Church. Throughout his life Ettore was known as a very capable and hard worker. In his early years in Acri, he worked with the electric company to bring electricity to his home village for the first time. As a young man, he followed in his brother Vincenzo's footsteps, spending memorable years in France working as a mason. With several siblings and his parents, he immigrated to the US at age 22 for more opportunity. Ettore was employed for decades at Wyman Gordon in Groton, Connecticut, where he was a respected coworker.

Along with being an incredibly hard worker, Ettore enjoyed life with family and friends. He had a great love for music and dancing. As a teenager in Sericella, he played records from the balcony of his family home. Many remember his passion for leading others in the tarantella at weddings. In his later years, he continued to find comfort from singing classic Italian songs.

Ettore will be remembered for his warm smile and social nature. As a longtime member of the Hilltop Social Club, Ettore enjoyed playing bocce and bringing home championship trophies with his brothers and friends. At Alley Katz, he was known as Steady Eddie by his bowling teammates.

His daughters appreciated all of the ways he supported them, attending their school events, giving rides to and from college, traveling together, and always being there as they started their own families. Ettore will be greatly missed by many.

Visiting hours will be held on Sunday, Oct. 19 from 3pm-6pm at Gaffney-Dolan Funeral Home, 59 Spruce St., Westerly. Family and friends will also be received at the funeral home on Monday, Oct. 20 from 9am -10:30am, immediately followed by a Mass of Christian Burial to be celebrated at 11am at St. Pius X Church, 44 Elm St., Westerly. Entombment will take place at St. Sebastian Cemetery, Cobblestone La., Westerly. For online condolences please visit www.gaffneydolanfuneralhome.com