Obituary for Salvatore DeSantis
Salvatore DeSantis, 78, of Westerly, passed away on December 20, 2022 at home surrounded by his wife and family.
Born in San Giacomo d’Acri, Calabria, Italy, he moved to America on December 7, 1955 where he settled in Westerly.
Sal leaves behind his wife of 58 years Adelina (Groccia); daughter Rose Marie and husband Michael Buck; son Salvatore Jr. and wife Tracy; son Francesco “Frank” and wife Delores; and daughter Jeanne and husband Thomas McDonald. He also leaves behind his grandchildren, Nicole, Cheltia and husband Paul, Andrea, Jacob, Carissa and husband Chandler, Salvatore III, Francesca, Joshua, Jacob, Jason and Travis; and great-grandchildren, Brayden, Mason, Crislyn, and Jack. He leaves behind his brother Ettore and wife Linda and sister Concetta and husband Steve McGuire. He is predeceased by his brothers, Angelo, Giuseppe, Luigi, and Michele, his mother and father, Carmela and Francesco DeSantis, and his daughter in law, Carrie DeSantis.
For 37 years, Sal worked as a weaver at the American Velvet Company in Stonington, CT
followed by nine years at Foxwoods Resort Casino. After retiring, he continued to frequent
Foxwoods as a patron of the poker room, but never during his daily ritual of watching “the story”
with his wife.
A renowned soupy maker, pitch player, and a connoisseur of local grocery stores, Sal enjoyed
the time he was able to spend with his family. Sal valued any moment to laud his
grandchildren’s triumphs, celebrating them from near and far. For years, a family gathering was
not complete without a bocce match or a competitive game of cards.
He was a member of the Westerly Knights of Columbus and a communicant of St. Pius X Church.
Visiting hours will be held on Monday, Dec. 26, from 4-7pm at Gaffney-Dolan Funeral Home, 59 Spruce St., Westerly. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10am on Tuesday, Dec. 27 at St. Pius X Church, 44 Elm St., Westerly. There is no procession from the funeral home to church. Burial will follow at St. Sebastian Cemetery, Westerly. Please note: The family kindly asks that masks be worn during visiting hours and services. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to a charity of your choice. For online condolences please visit www.gaffneydolanfuneralhome.com
Born in San Giacomo d’Acri, Calabria, Italy, he moved to America on December 7, 1955 where he settled in Westerly.
Sal leaves behind his wife of 58 years Adelina (Groccia); daughter Rose Marie and husband Michael Buck; son Salvatore Jr. and wife Tracy; son Francesco “Frank” and wife Delores; and daughter Jeanne and husband Thomas McDonald. He also leaves behind his grandchildren, Nicole, Cheltia and husband Paul, Andrea, Jacob, Carissa and husband Chandler, Salvatore III, Francesca, Joshua, Jacob, Jason and Travis; and great-grandchildren, Brayden, Mason, Crislyn, and Jack. He leaves behind his brother Ettore and wife Linda and sister Concetta and husband Steve McGuire. He is predeceased by his brothers, Angelo, Giuseppe, Luigi, and Michele, his mother and father, Carmela and Francesco DeSantis, and his daughter in law, Carrie DeSantis.
For 37 years, Sal worked as a weaver at the American Velvet Company in Stonington, CT
followed by nine years at Foxwoods Resort Casino. After retiring, he continued to frequent
Foxwoods as a patron of the poker room, but never during his daily ritual of watching “the story”
with his wife.
A renowned soupy maker, pitch player, and a connoisseur of local grocery stores, Sal enjoyed
the time he was able to spend with his family. Sal valued any moment to laud his
grandchildren’s triumphs, celebrating them from near and far. For years, a family gathering was
not complete without a bocce match or a competitive game of cards.
He was a member of the Westerly Knights of Columbus and a communicant of St. Pius X Church.
Visiting hours will be held on Monday, Dec. 26, from 4-7pm at Gaffney-Dolan Funeral Home, 59 Spruce St., Westerly. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10am on Tuesday, Dec. 27 at St. Pius X Church, 44 Elm St., Westerly. There is no procession from the funeral home to church. Burial will follow at St. Sebastian Cemetery, Westerly. Please note: The family kindly asks that masks be worn during visiting hours and services. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to a charity of your choice. For online condolences please visit www.gaffneydolanfuneralhome.com