Janet DeFonzo

BIOGRAPHY

DeFonzo was born in Connecticut, USA, 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.

DeFonzo passed away on 19 December 2024 in Bristol, Connecticut, United States, at the age of 110 years, 180 days. She was survived by her daughter, Donna Fusco, her son, Victor Ventrella, as well as five grandchildren, and four great grandchildren.

RECOGNITION

Her age was verified by Fabrizio Villatoro, and validated by LongeviQuest on 30 June 2024.

ATTRIBUTION

* Janet Casadonte Ventrella – Find A Grave

* “Filomena Casadonte DOLCE OBITUARY” – Hartford Courant, July 2011

* “Rocco DeFonzo Obituary” – West Haven Funeral Home, November 2020

* “Centarians Celebrate Birthdays Over 100 Years” – Patch, 11 October 2021

* “Bristol resident will be celebrating her 108th birthday” – The Bristol Press, 13 June 2022

* “We got a jump start in celebrating Janet’s 110th birthday!” – Facebook (Bristol Health), 21 June 2024

* “Citation Presentation for 110 Year-Old Bristol Resident” – Connecticut House Republicans, 25 June 2024

* Janet DeFonzo Obituary – Dunn Funeral Home (Bristol, CT)

GALLERY

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