Obituary: Elvira (Vera) Paula Maria (Fiorillo) Davino, 85

Obituary courtesy of Chase Parkway Memorial/Albini Family Funeral Home

“Loving mother, nonnie, aunt and best friend”

Waterbury, CT - Elvira (Vera) Paula Maria (Fiorillo) Davino, loving mother, nonnie, aunt and best friend, left this world peacefully on February 11, 2021 at the age of 85, just two months shy of her 86th birthday.

She was born to Paul and Aurora (Criscuolo) Fiorillo on April 15, 1935 in Waterbury. After graduating from Wilby High School, Vera went on to pursue certification in hairdressing and cosmetology at the WF Kaynor Technical School in Waterbury. Shortly thereafter Vera met her husband of 50 years, the late Joseph J. Davino Sr and together they had 5 children: Maryann Davino (Lanzieri); Joseph J. Davino Jr. and his wife Annamarie (Genova); Carolynn M. Davino-Ramaya MD and her husband Krishnan Ramaya; Michael; and Barbara Hale RN and her husband Patrick.

Vera was proud of her 5 children and she was over the moon ecstatic about her grandchildren Jennifer Davino and her partner Jay; Kimberli (Davino) Wilson and her husband Jonathan; Mark E. Lanzieri Jr and his partner Kassie; Jonathan Hale and his partner Kelly; and Jessica Hale and her partner TJ. She also leaves behind five great grandchildren: Michael, Tyler, Berlynn, Karsyn, and Myla.

Vera loved her family fiercely, was an avid reader, chef par excellence, master baker, outstanding seamstress, elaborate decorator, and exquisite craftswoman. She participated in every school and extra curricular activity of her children and grandchildren with an interest and involvement equal to none.

When she wasn’t focused on family activities, she included them in her outside passions that included an extensive history of volunteering in her community. She participated in the local Boy Scouts ladies auxiliary and she was a quintessential volunteer for the Easter Seal Society of Waterbury where she organized the annual card party to raise funds for children and adults with disability. Vera engaged in and excelled at every activity she encountered with her whole heart and soul. She took on every challenge with passion and gusto and everything she touched turned to gold. Additional activities included ceramics, night crawler hunting with her boys, crocheting, making up songs with her grandchildren and many other past time favorites.

She was proud of her Italian heritage and passed on culture and tradition to her family while delicately blending their Irish roots too. After realizing her dream to travel to Italy, she was able to add a flair of direct experience to her stories. Vera was a member of the Immaculate Conception parish in Waterbury.

Vera held a variety of positions outside the home working in the insurance industry as an administrative assistant, food service industry, and she was most passionate about her role as a surgical instrument sterilization technician in the operating room at Saint Mary’s Hospital.
In addition to her family, leaves behind several nieces and nephews, and many special friends including Amelia Masotta, her lifelong friend and confident. Vera was preceded in death by her husband of 50 years, her sister Carole Ricciuti, brothers Paul, Edward and Vincent Fiorillo and her parents.

Arrangements: A Mass of Christian Burial celebrating Vera’s life will be held on Tuesday, February 16, 2021 at 10 a.m. directly at the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception. Burial will follow at Mount Olivet Cemetery. There are no calling hours. Chase Parkway Memorial/Albini Family Funeral Home is assisting her family with arrangements. Mass will be livestreamed on the Basilica’s website at www.waterburybasilica.org

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Vera’s name may be made to:
Charlotte Hungerford Hospital
540 Litchfield Street
P.O. Box 988
Torrington, CT 06790