Joseph M. Rafala, 93, husband to the late Marguerita (Cavalieri), passed away peacefully on Thursday, April 14, 2022. He was born on November 18, 1928 and was one of ten children to the late Luigi and Concetta (DiMauro) Rafala in Middletown, CT. Joe went on to serve his country as a Corporal in the United States Army during the Korean War. He was very proud of his service and loved sharing stories with his family and friends. He married Marguerita in 1954 and had eleven children together that he cherished dearly. He was an extremely hard-working man. He owned his own business for many years called Rafala’s Ricotta, where he made exceptional ricotta, mozzarella and many other fresh cheeses. Joe later went to work for the State of Connecticut as a meat cutter. He was a very generous, benevolent, loving man who would do anything for his family and friends. Joe always had more than one job. He painted part time to not only support his family but to also send his children to Catholic School.
Joe had a gift for making his specialty soups and his famous ricotta pies. One of his many passions included singing. He sang in the Saint Augustine Choir for decades and also joined groups such as the Rocky Hill Serenaders and various Middletown choirs that visited nursing homes throughout his retirement years.
Joseph is survived by, and will be lovingly remembered by, his children Paula and Bill McKone, Louise Manning, Michael and Dora Rafala, Anthony and Christine Rafala, Peter and Lura Rafala, Maria Grider, Rosann Rafala and Kelly Voss, and Stephen and Paula Rafala. He will also be missed by his sixteen grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren. Joseph is also survived by his siblings, Millie Failla, and Louis and his wife Phyllis Rafala. He is predeceased by his sons, Kevin Rafala and Joseph Rafala, Jr., a daughter Rita Ann Rafala, sons-in-law Robert Grider and Nelson Manning, his siblings Carl Rafala, Mary Lastrina, Rose Sapia, Josephine Curcio, Angelina Anderson, Pauline Allen and Jeannette Cassidy, as well as numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.
Friends and family may visit on Tuesday, April 26, 2022 from 4:00PM to 7:00PM at the Farley-Sullivan Funeral Home, 34 Beaver Rd. Wethersfield. A Mass of Christian Burial, celebrating Joseph’s life will be held Wednesday, April 27, 2022 at 10:00AM in Saint Augustine Church 10 Campfield Ave., Hartford. Burial will follow at Cedar Hill Cemetery, 453 Fairfield Ave. Hartford. For further information or to leave a condolence, please visit FarleySullivan.com.