Francesco Orlando

New London — Francesco A. Orlando, 86, of New London, entered eternal life on Thursday, March 29, 2018, in the comfort of his loving family.

He was born July 8, 1931, in Sambiase, Calabria Italy, the son of the late Felice and MariaCarolina (La Scala) Orlando. He was a master blacksmith (known as Maestro Ciccio) in Italy for his family business then later found work in Argentina. He was united in marriage to Rosina Sinopoli, on June 10, 1962, in Sambiase, Calabria, Italy, who he had known since she was born. The two were neighbors and inseparable throughout their whole lives. They settled in New London where Mr. Orlando worked for many years at Sheffield Tube along with a successful family property business. Everyone who knew Francesco knew he was a hardworking, gentle, loving, and very humble man. His family was his whole world.

Besides his wife of nearly 56 years of marriage, he is survived by two children and their spouses, Felice and Michelle Orlando of Waterford and Mary and Daniel Docker of New London. He was predeceased by a daughter and her husband, Teresa and James Grabner in 2009 and 2017. He is also survived by four grandchildren, Rosa Grabner, Anna Docker, and Gabriella and Francesco Orlando; and three sisters, Maria, Rosetta and Fiorina, all of Italy.

He was predeceased by five siblings, Salvatore, Saverio, Vittoria, Elena and Cristina.

His family will receive relatives and friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the Impellitteri-Malia Funeral Home, 84 Montauk Ave. New London. Guests are invited to gather at 10 a.m. Wednesday for a Mass of Christian Burial at St. Joseph Church. Entombment to follow in St. Mary Cemetery Mausoleum, both in New London.