Giuseppa Bongiorno

Giuseppa (Aresco) Bongiorno , age 88, of Middletown, CT, beloved wife of Raffaele Bongiorno passed away peacefully at Hartford Hospital on May 24, 2026, surrounded by her family who loved her very much. 

Born on September 27, 1937, in Melilli Sicily, she was the late daughter of Carmelo Aresco and Nella Rafala also of Melilli, Sicily. In 1958 she married the love of her life and had 3 daughters whom she loved very much. Giuseppa and Raffaele immigrated to America in October 1977 to start a new life. She loved to be around her family and cook for everyone. Her scacciatas were especially delicious as well as her arangini and many other Italian dishes. She would call everyone to tell them she had made supper and you better come and get it or it was the end of the world! 

She use to make the rounds calling her sister, friends, and all her nieces and nephews just to say “hello honey, I love you”! She was full of life and wanted to make everyone happy. She especially enjoyed phone calls from her nephews, “Zia tu mangi a casa mia oggi?” mom would say, “si gioia”. She frequently would go to her sister Elena’s house for lunch , as well as visits with Bianca. She would call her grandchildren informing them, she needed to go to the store to buy “one thing” “ok nonna” but came out 2 hours later with a cart full of food. Mom was also a seamstress, and made beautiful dresses and skirts. She loved flowers, gardening, traveling to Florida and Italy, and going to St. Sebastian church of whom she was a member. On Sundays she enjoyed going to Harkness with her family to relax under the tree by the ocean. 

Mom was a sweet, caring, loving woman, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt, cousin, friend. She was loved by everyone. She was an amazing mom, always there for us.

Giuseppa is predeceased by her late husband Raffaele Bongiorno, daughter Lucia Slutzkin, brother Angelo Aresco, and nephew Carlmelo Morello. She is survived by her children, Loredana Bongiorno, Fulvia Lancia and her husband Christopher, son in law, Ronald, grandchildren, Jacob, Marina, Brian, Melissa and fiance Kevin. Great grandchildren, Luciana, Amilia, Kylie, and Karmelina. She is also survived by her brother in law and sister, Rosario and Elena Morello, sister in law, Nella Aresco, and nieces and nephews, Sal & Mitzi, Mark & Suzanne, Emanuela & Mike, Tina, GianLuca, Nico, Giovanna, Teagan, Sophia, Emanuela, and CJ. 

Mamma you will be missed more than words can say. You will always be in our hearts, we will still toast our espresso to you every Sunday.

Funeral services will be held Wednesday (June 3rd) from Biega Funeral Home, 3 Silver St., Middletown, followed by a 10:30 a.m. Funeral Liturgy in St. Sebastian Church, Middletown. Burial will be in St. Sebastian Cemetery, Middlefield. Friends may call at Biega Funeral Home on Tuesday (June 2nd) from 5 to 8 p.m. To share memories or express condolences online please visit www.biegafuneralhome.com.