Obituary of Josephine Mencio

MOORESVILLE, NC- Mrs. Josephine (Lamanno) Mencio, 90, formerly of 41 Cherry St. in Naugatuck, passed away Monday Oct. 25, 2010 at the Lake Norman Regional Health Center, in Mooresville, NC. She was the loving and devoted wife of the late Frank P. Mencio, who passed away in 1999 after 49 years of marriage. Josephine was born in Waterbury, CT on July 19, 1920, a daughter of the late Antonino and Margherita (Adamo) Lamanno and was a Naugatuck resident for many years prior to moving to Mooresville 3 years ago. She was a 1942 graduate of Albertus Magnus College with a BA in Romance Languages and a minor in music from the Yale School of Music. She was a 2-time recipient of the Gold Medal at the New England Music Festival of High School Students and went on to become an accomplished concert pianist. She later opened a piano instruction studio in her home, where she welcomed and taught several generations of aspiring musicians from the Naugatuck Valley for 57 years, prior to her retirement. Besides her family, she cherished most the many relationships with her students and counted many of her former students among her best friends in life. While a Naugatuck resident she was a communicant of St. Francis of Assisi Church. She is survived by her two sons, Dr. Gregory Mencio of Nashville, TN and Paul Mencio of Mooresville, NC, with whom she made her home for the past 3 years; one loving sister, Rosemary Lamanno of Newport News, VA; 4 grandchildren, 1 great-granddaughter, and many devoted nieces and nephews. Her brothers Daniel Lamanno of Naugatuck and James Lamanno of Great Barrington, MA preceded her in death. Her funeral will be held on Tuesday Nov. 2, 2010 at 10:00 A.M. from the Alderson Funeral Home of Naugatuck, 201 Meadow St. and proceed to St. Francis of Assisi Church, 318 Church St. for a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 am. Burial will follow in St. James Cemetery, Naugatuck. Friends may call at the funeral home beginning at 9 AM on Tuesday morning, prior to the funeral service. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Francis of Assisi Church, 318 Church St., Naugatuck, 06770-2805