'Together in Life, And Together In Heaven' -- Couple Married 69 Years Dies Within Minutes of One Another

“Together in life, and together in heaven.” That is how the obituary reads for Guiseppe and Livia Fortuna.

The couple met and married in their native Italy before the end of World War II. They started their family, having three children in their homeland, before immigrating to Stamford in the 1960s where Guiseppe’s sister had settled.

During their 69-year marriage they worked at the former Clairol manufacturing plant in Stamford — he as a clamp truck operator, she as a production line worker. The couple had a fourth child after moving to Stamford.

As they grew older, health problems interfered and about a year ago, they became residents of the Smith House Health Care Center in Stamford, sharing a room in the city-run facility.

Livia had celebrated her 86th birthday on Dec. 12. The next day, at the age of 91, Guiseppe passed away. Minutes later, Livia followed him, according to the Nicholas F. Cognetta Funeral Home that is handling the couple’s funeral arrangements.

And on Friday, the couple’s family is holding funeral services that will conclude with the couple being buried together at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Greenwich.

Giuseppe was born in Minturno, Italy on Jan. 1, 1922 to the late Stefano and Angela Vento Fortuna. Livia was born on Dec. 12, 1928 in Santa Fiora, Italy to the late Giovanni and Geltrude Franceschi.

They are survived by their children, Giuliana DiGeronimo and her husband Lorenzo of Brooklyn, NY, Angela Munzenmaier and her husband Fred of Atlanta, GA and John Fortuna and his wife Veronica of Monroe, GA; nine grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. Giuseppe is also survived by his sister Josephine Palumbo of Stamford. Besides their parents, Giuseppe and Livia were predeceased by their son, Steve Fortuna.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in their son Steve Fortuna’s memory to the Wounded Warrior Project, P.O Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675.

To leave online condolences, visit www.cognetta.com.

Photo Guiseppe and Livia Fortuna. Credit: www.cognetta.com.

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