Lenares, Joseph A.
Joseph A. Lenares, 82, of Newington, passed away peacefully on February 11, 2024. He was the beloved husband of Antoinette (Manocchio) Lenares for 59 years. Joseph was born in Canicattini Bagni, Sicily on April 14, 1941, son of the late Corrado and Paulina (Italia) Lenares. Joseph and his mother immigrated to the United States in 1953 aboard the famous SS Andrea Doria and made their home in New Britain, CT. Being unable to speak English, Joseph's first job at age 12 was delivering groceries for Sorrento Imported Grocery store. Along with delivering groceries, Joseph shined shoes and did odd jobs to support his family. He learned early that in order to be successful, hard work was required. In 1959, Stop & Shop hired Joseph to work in the meat department as a meat cutter and later promoted him to meat manager. He was proud of this accomplishment and more importantly, while both were working at Stop & Shop, he fell in love with Antoinette. Joseph was the proud owner and operator of Public Market of Newington. He started his familyowned business in Middletown in 1968, before moving to Newington and establishing Public Market of Newington in 1978. Joseph was an active lifetime member of the Generale Amelgio Society, New Britain and long-time sponsor and board member of Newington Little League, Newington Friends of Football and Newington Youth Football. As a lifelong Newington resident, he cared deeply about the community and showed that through his active support of civic organizations and non-profits locally. Above all, Joseph was a loving husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. He will be deeply missed.
Along with his wife Antoinette, Joseph is survived by his sons Joseph S. Lenares and his wife Jane, Michael Lenares and his wife Tina, and David Lenares, all of Newington; grandchildren Jessica Seaha and her husband Daniel, of Wethersfield, Nicholas Lenares, of Newington, Joseph Lenares and his wife Vanessa, of Newington, and Diana Lenares and her fiancé Brandon Fenderson, of Newington; and great-grandchildren Emilia and Julia Seaha. He was predeceased by his brother Sebastian “Uncle Sam” Lenares.
Relatives and friends are invited to visit with Joseph's family on Sunday, February 18th, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Duksa Family Funeral Home at Newington Memorial, 20 Bonair Ave., Newington. Funeral services will begin from the funeral home on Monday, February 19th at 9:00 a.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. at Church of the Holy Spirit, 183 Church St., Newington. He will be laid to rest in West Meadow Cemetery, Newington. To share a condolence with Joseph's family, please visit www.duksa.net.