Obituaries

Rosaria Bracciale Suscella

November 11, 1934 - September 23, 2023

Burial Date November 30, 2023

Rosaria (Bracciale) Suscella, 88, of 555 Ocean Avenue, New London, entered eternal life on September 23, 2023. She died peacefully at home, where she lived with her daughter.
She was born on November 11, 1934, in Montescaglioso, Italy. She was the daughter of Anna Maria (Andrisani) and Rocco Luigi Bracciale, both of Montescaglioso, Italy.
On May 8, 1957, she married Michele (Mike) Suscella at the Capuchin Friary in Montescaglioso. They were married for nearly 49 years before he predeceased her in April of 2006.
In June of 1963 Rosaria, often going by “Rosa” here in America, made the long ship journey across the Atlantic Ocean with her two young daughters. Arriving at the harbor in NYC, she was reunited with her husband who had come two months earlier to start his new tailoring job and to look for a suitable home for his family.
Mike, a master tailor, worked for a few years at a tailoring shop in Groton, CT while Rosaria worked as a seamstress in the clothing department of Sears before they opened their own place on Bank Street, “Suscella’s Tailoring.” They remained on Bank Street until the year 2000 when the building was torn down. The final location for their shop was on Ocean Avenue.
Rosaria was a highly skilled seamstress, working tirelessly alongside her husband for nearly the whole length of their marriage. She had many loyal customers who returned again and again for her expert skills and a friendly chat.
In addition to sewing, she was also skillful at knitting, crocheting, and embroidery. She was a marvelous cook and her children and grandchildren always talk about her unbeatable pasta sauce, handmade pastas and her unique tiramisu. She also loved gardening, both her large vegetable garden as well as her beautiful roses, tulips and other flowers. She could often be seen outside tending to her yard and became acquainted with many of the area’s passers-by walking on Ocean Avenue.
As a young woman in Montescaglioso she was very active in the Capuchin Franciscan youth group held at the friary just a few minutes’ walk away from her home. She had the lead part in several of the plays, both acting and singing in them. She was a Third Order Franciscan and one of the highlights of her youth was traveling to San Giovanni Rotondo on a pilgrimage and attending Mass celebrated by Saint Padre Pio – on whose feast day she passed away.
Her love and skill in creating beautiful things led her to making lovely creations with palm leaves to adorn Saint Joseph’s Church on Palm Sunday. Father Joseph Castaldi, a close family friend, would often visit her for a cup of espresso coffee when she became homebound.
Her youngest child and only son, Antonio, “Tony” was her precious baby throughout his relatively brief life. He was born with Down Syndrome and remained home where Rosaria devotedly cared for him until he passed away in November of 2007 at the young age of 34. She greatly missed her son and her husband.
Rosaria had a deep love and loyalty for all her family and returned often to Italy to visit her siblings and large extended family and lifetime friends. She was the life of any family gathering with her sharp mind and quick wit.
She leaves behind her two daughters, Anna Suscella, with whom she lived and who was her primary caretaker; her daughter Maria Palma Smith and husband Michael of Preston, CT; her grandchildren David, Rosa, Joseph, and Lili; her sister-in-law Maria Bracciale of Waterford, CT; her nephew Rocco Bracciale of Waterford, niece Anna Sheridan of New York, and cousin Rosemarie Haas of Endicott, NY, as well as many other relatives and friends.
In Italy she is survived by her brother Giuseppe Bracciale and her sister-in-law Vittoria Bracciale. In Italy she also leaves behind many beloved nephews and nieces, great-nephews and great-nieces, dozens of cousins and many dear, life-long friends. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her.
In addition to her husband Mike and son Tony, Rosaria was predeceased by her brother Pietro Bracciale of Waterford, CT; and in Italy by her brother Mauro Vincenzo Bracciale, and her two sisters Grazia Lomonaco and Maria Bracciale.
A special thank you to all her devoted caretakers, especially those who were with her at the end: Donna, Jean, Johenny, and Michelle. Also, a special thank you to everyone from hospice, especially Ashley, Amanda, Tanena, and Danielle.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Rosaria’s name to Saint Joseph School Endowment Fund, 37 Squire Street, New London, CT, 06320
The family will receive relatives and friends on Friday from 5 to 7 pm at the Impellitteri-Malia Funeral Home, 84 Montauk Avenue, New London.
On Saturday, September 30, the funeral will assemble at Impellitteri-Malia at 9:00 am followed by a Mass of Christian burial at 10:00 am at Saint Joseph’s Church in New London. Burial at Saint Mary’s Cemetery-Mausoleum in New London will follow immediately after the Mass.