Maria (Iacovella) Romanelli, 58, West Hartford, beloved wife of Dominick Romanelli of 40 years passed away unexpectedly at home on Tuesday, June 8, 2021. Born in Carlton, Melbourne Australia on December 9, 1962. Although she was born in Australia, Maria grew up in Italy until she moved to the United States with her husband, at 18 years old. She was the daughter of Giuseppe and Romilda (Tresca) Iacovella of Benevento Italy. Maria’s life revolved around her family and friends. She worked alongside her husband at their family dry cleaning business, Valetone Cleaners, most of her lifetime. Many customers became like family to her. Maria was selfless and wore her heart on her sleeve. She always did for others and would remember and celebrate every milestone, birthday, anniversary, and accomplishment. Maria enjoyed cooking and hosting. She loved people, there was never a day she wasn’t catching up with someone. A loving wife, mother, and grandmother, she will be dearly and forever missed by her husband Dominick, son and daughter-in-law Anthony and Aylin Romanelli of West Hartford, CT, daughter and son-in-law, Silia and Almir Sahacic of West Hartford, CT. She will be tremendously missed and forever remembered by her grandchildren, Emilia, Jason, Ava and Theodore. Her grandchildren were the light of her life and her heart burst with joy every second she spent with them. Maria is survived by two sisters in Italy, Vittoria Iacovella and brother-in-law Giambattista Meoli, and Rosa Iacovella and brother-in-law Emanuel Corbo and niece Sabrina Corbo. Maria will be dearly missed by all those who knew and loved her, especially her sister-in-law Carmelina, mother-in-law Letizia and her nieces Anna Maria and family, Sonia, and Luciana and family. She leaves behind aunts, uncles, and cousins in CT, Italy and in Australia, specifically Frank and Donna Iacovella and family, Rocco and Carmela Mancini and family. She especially leaves behind a cherished cousin Anna Sanzari, who was like a sister to her. Maria was predeceased by her father-in-law Antonio and her brother-in-law Joe.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held FRIDAY June 11, 12:00pm (Noon), at St. Thomas the Apostle Church, 872 Farmington Ave., in West Hartford. At the family’s request, masks will be mandatory with strict social distance protocols. Entombment will be at Cedar Hill Cemetery, Hartford. To share memories of Maria with her family and to view live streaming or recording of the funeral mass, please visit www.sheehanhilbornbreen.com.