Obituary: Maria (Ambrosi) Bonapace, 94, Of Brookfield

Information Courtesy Cornell Memorial Home

BROOKFIELD, CT — Maria (Ambrosi) Bonapace, 94, of Brookfield, wife for nearly 75 years to her beloved husband Riccardo, passed away unexpectedly at home on March 25th.

She was born in Carisolo, Italy, daughter of the late Anna and Emilio Ambrosi. After losing her mother at the age of 9, Maria helped raise her two younger sisters, the late Rina Babuini and Anna Bartoli. Through these difficult times in her war-torn country, Maria developed her strength of character, loyalty, humility, devotion and perseverance that she not only carried throughout her life but passed on to future generations. She married her husband Riccardo when she was 19 years old and they immigrated to New York in 1948. They raised a family in the Bronx before settling in Connecticut in the 1970s. Maria had many interests and hobbies. She loved nature, enjoyed long walks, flowers and gardening, dancing and singing old Italian folk songs. She was a master of crochet and knitting and found great joy in gifting her beautiful handiwork to family and friends. Maria also enjoyed playing card games and doing crosswords and puzzles. Family meant everything to her and she meant everything to her family. Her devotion was both a foundation and inspiration to all. She loved spending time with her 4 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren and vacationing in her mountain home in Carisolo. Maria was smart, honest, caring and dependable and she will be dearly missed by so many, both here and in Italy.

Besides her husband, she is survived by her three daughters, Anna Bonapace, Ines Graziosa, and Cathy Ambrosi; her four grandchildren, James Graziosa and his wife Jean, Michelle Graziosa and her husband Orazio, Dominic Ambrosi and his wife Cheryl, and Julia Ambrosi; and her five great grandchildren, Thomas, Giorgia, Joseph, Julia, and Luca.

A celebration of life mass will be held on Monday, March 29th at 10am at St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church in Brookfield. All attendees are asked to please wear a mask and maintain proper social distancing. All Current COVID 19 regulations will be strictly adhered to. Anyone wishing to attend the mass is asked to please register using the link provided on the funeral home website www.cornellmemorial.com. Burial will follow in Central Cemetery in Brookfield.