Obituary: Barbara Veronica Assante, 79, of North Branford

Information and photo via Keenan Funeral Home

Barbara Veronica Assante, age 79, passed away suddenly at her home in North Branford. She was the beloved wife of the late Giacomo Assante Jr. She was born in Providence, Rhode Island on October 5, 1938 to the late Henry and Maude McDonald Calcagni. She loved music and was never happier than when she was singing or dancing. In her early years, she and her sister performed regularly together; sometimes singing and tap dancing on a local radio show and in the “Starlets on Parade” at the historic Fay’s Theatre in Providence.
Later, she married the love of her life, started a family and stayed home to raise her children.

Barbara made the best Sunday Macaroni and Meatballs you’ve ever had - usually with music playing loudly from a countertop radio. She loved to laugh and have a good time with friends and neighbors and she loved a good, sometimes last minute road trip to see family back home in RI.

For a time she worked at U.S. Surgical in North Haven, but by far her greatest joy was being with family. She loved the beach or just “a ride to the water” with her beloved husband, “Jack”. She was always up for “coffee and ...” with a friend, and she loved chatting with her Granddaughters, teaching them card games or just doting on them.

Barbara is going to be greatly missed by many, but mostly by her three children Giacomo Assante III of North Branford, Allison (Mike) Granata of East Haven, and Michele (Richard) Assante LaBash of Newtown and by her two grandchildren Willow and Violet. She will also be forever in the hearts of her sister Mildred (John) Warden of Arizona, and four nieces and nephews - Cheryl, Rocky, Lorinda and Stanley. She is predeceased by her sister Geraldine Taccone, two half brothers, Frank and Joseph Gorman and her nephew James “Jimmy” Paolella.

Family and friends may visit the Keenan Funeral Home, Wednesday, August 1 from 9am – 10:30 am, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 11 am at St. Augustine Church, 30 Caputo Road, N. Branford. Burial will be private at All Saints Cemetery, North Haven.