Janet DeFonzo, the oldest (known) living person in Connecticut, passed away in Bristol on 19 December, at the age of 110 years, 180 days.
DeFonzo was born in Connecticut, on 22 June 1914, to parents Dominic Casadonte and Mary Verano. She had four siblings: Frances Ceneviva, Antonietta Condeliere, Filomena Dolce (1918–2011), and Anthony Casadonte. At the age of 19, she worked as a seamstress in New Britain. Later, she sewed a wedding dress for her sister-in-law, as well as dresses for the bridesmaids.
In 1935, she married Peter Ventrella (1910–1972), and together they raised two children, Donna and Victor. From the time of World War II (around 1944) until her retirement in 1972, she worked at New Departure Manufacturing. According to her family, she would have worked there longer, but she fell and broke her knee, forcing her to retire.
In 1985, she remarried Rocco DeFonzo, who was 10 years her junior. Her second husband passed away in November 2020, aged 96. She was a member of St. Francis de Sales Parish at St. Anthony Church.
We extend our heartfelt condolences to the family and loved ones of Janet DeFonzo during this difficult time.
