Amelia Ann Grasso, 80, of Vernon, Conn., died peacefully on the night of October 10, at Hartford Hospital. She was born  September 25, 1937, in Newark, N.J., the daughter of Teresa Guarino and Nicholas Castellano.

Her beloved husband, Albert Grasso of Vernon; her children, Kathleen Pratt of Newtown and Michael Grasso of Henderson, Nev.; and her cherished granddaughter, Elizabeth Pratt of Newtown, survive Mrs Grasso.

She met Albert Grasso when she was 15 years old, and the two married when she was 19, on June 29, 1957, at St Michael's Church in Newark.

Throughout childhood, Mrs Grasso worked at her father's shop where she made Italian cheese by hand. She graduated from William H. Turner Technical Arts High School and earned a degree in nursing. Following this, she worked as a nurse at Hartford Hospital for several years before turning her attention to sales in both fashion and jewelry. Despite a busy schedule, Mrs Grasso was also a very talented artist who enjoyed both painting and drawing.

The ties within her family were strong. One of nine children, her siblings were: Freddie, Maria, Joseph, Eugene, Anna, Jeanie, Helen, and Patty. She was fiercely loyal to her family and would stop at nothing to provide and care for them. Mrs Grasso always made sure her efforts sought to reach her goals; there were no boundaries to her love.

Her family will receive friends on Sunday, October 15, from 2 to 5 pm, at the Samsel & Carmon Funeral Home, 419 Buckland Road, South Windsor.

A funeral service will be conducted on Monday, October 16, at 10 am, at the funeral home. Burial will follow at Wapping Cemetery, South Windsor.

As an expression of sympathy, memorial contributions may be sent to Make-A-Wish Connecticut at ct.wish.org.