Vincenzo Lococo

Vincenzo Lococo, 94, beloved husband of Anna Lococo, died peacefully on Wednesday, August 16, surrounded by his loving family at his home in New Britain. Vincenzo was born on April 23, 1929 in Stefanaconi, Calabria, Italy. He was the son of the late Antonino Lococo and Caterina Staropoli. Vincenzo, or “Nonno” as he was known by his fourteen grandchildren, was known for his work ethic, creating a better life for each generation of his family. Raised on a farm in Calabria, Vincenzo immigrated to Australia with his beloved wife Anna where the couple welcomed three sons, Tony, Dominic, and Nick. The Lococos then moved to the United States in 1967 and completed their family with the birth of their daughter Teresa. Vincenzo spent his career working hard at Fafnir Bearing manufacturing facility in New Britain.

In addition to his family, the defining passion of Vincenzo’s life was his garden. His children remember the garden as Dad’s sacred space, where he would vanish into the rows of vegetables to work for hours on end. The result was a beautiful bounty of fresh food cooked by his wife Anna for the family. Everyone – from Vincenzo’s children, to grandchildren, to friends – knew the cardinal rule: nobody disturbs the garden, but everyone reaps its rewards. No one ever left Vincenzo’s home empty handed. If you tried, Vincenzo and Anna would chase you out the door, offering tomatoes, zucchini, eggplant, garlic, peppers, basil, parsley, tomato sauce, homemade wine, salami, or any food you could dream of. Many left the house with grocery bags so full of fresh food from the garden that the heavy bag would burst. Two generous spirits, Vincenzo and Anna never asked for anything in return. Some of the family’s fondest memories are of Vincenzo sitting under the pergola in his backyard, relaxing with a glass of his own wine.

While Vincenzo spent the majority of his life in Connecticut, his infectious personality reached all over the globe. Many hours per week were spent on the phone with family in Australia or Italy, or on Facetime with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren up and down the east coast. Vincenzo enjoyed many trips and quality time with his family at Old Colony Beach. He and Anna were blessed to travel to Australia in 2019, reuniting with their four children and spouses for a month-long celebration.

Vincenzo’s grandchildren fondly remember Sunday dinners at Nonno and Nonna’s house, a tradition that strengthened the bond between his kids, nephews, nieces, and grandchildren. As the grandkids got older, Nonno and Nonna remained a strong presence in all of their lives. Nonno traveled for every graduation, kept his energy high for playtime with his great-grandchildren, and was the life of the party and center of the dance floor at all of his grandkids’ weddings.

Vincenzo’s lifelong commitment to his wife Anna was a love story you read about in books. After moving to the United States, they were lifelong parishioners at St. Ann’s Church in New Britain. Each morning, he and Anna watched Italian Mass on their television, two people of faith who trusted that God would guide them through any hard times and would be waiting for them in Heaven when their time on Earth was complete.

Vincenzo is survived by his loving wife of sixty-four years, Anna Lococo. Together they built a beautiful family: children Anthony and Karen Lococo of Melbourne, Australia, Dominic Lococo of Melbourne, Australia, Nicola and Sylvia Lococo of Farmington, and Teresa and David Cunningham of Chalfont, Pennsylvania; grandchildren Daniel Lococo and his wife Kristina, Jonathan Lococo and his wife Myla, Chloe Lococo and her husband Nicolas Chapman, Anabella Lococo, Daniel Holmes, Ariana Collins and her husband Sean, Bryce Cunningham, Jayden Lococo and his partner Kiya Broughton, and Sarina Lococo; and great-grandchildren Jaime Valencia Chapman and Silvio Dominic Lococo.

Vincenzo is also survived by his brother Giuseppe Lococo and his wife Rosa of Melbourne, Australia, and sisters-in-law Adelia Corrias of Italy, and Anna Loschiavo of Kensington, as well as many cousins, nieces, and nephews in the U.S., Italy, Australia, and Canada. In Heaven, he will greet his parents Antonino and Caterina, predeceased siblings Teresa, Antonina and her husband Giuseppe, Ursula and her husband Giuseppe, and Nicola and his wife Isabella, and beloved brothers-in-law Ralph and Antonino Loschiavo and John and Isabella Rubino.

The family sends its warmest gratitude to Irina Bush and Paulette Fray, who took excellent care of Vincenzo in his final weeks of life.

Funeral services will be held on Monday, August 21, 2023 at 10:30 AM at Erickson-Hansen Funeral Home of Berlin, 111 Chamberlain Hwy., followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:30 AM at St. Paul Church.  Entombment will follow in St. Mary Cemetery, New Britain.  Calling hours are Sunday from 3-6 PM at the Funeral Home.  In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of Vincenzo Lococo to the Padre Pio Foundation of America at https://padrepio.com/giving/ or by mail to 463 Main Street, Cromwell, CT 06416.

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