Obituary: William Louis Cofrances

From Porto Funeral Homes

The world lost a beautiful soul and a true artist on November 9, 2025, when William Louis Cofrances passed away at the age of 63.

A gifted jazz saxophonist, devoted husband and father, and lover of all things creative, William filled every space he entered with warmth, laughter, and music that lingered long after the final note. Born on October 18, 1962, William was destined for a life steeped in melody and rhythm.

The son of two extraordinary musicians—William Andrew Cofrances, a renowned jazz saxophonist and flutist, and Lorraine “Rainey Day” Mallane Cofrances, a beloved jazz vocalist—William inherited their talent and passion for the art form.

From an early age, his love for jazz, soul, and Motown became the heartbeat of his life. His music reflected not only technical brilliance but also the deep tenderness and humor that defined his spirit.

William had a rare gift for seeing beauty in everything the way sunlight danced through leaves, the quiet rhythm of city streets, the laughter of loved ones. He approached life as an artist in every sense, drawing inspiration from the smallest details and turning them into something meaningful. His sense of humor was as sharp as it was kind; he could make anyone laugh, often leaving friends and family in joyful tears with his wit and impeccable timing.

He is survived by his loving wife, Maria Lynn Cofrances, who was his steadfast partner and muse through life’s every movement; his daughter, Shelby Rose Laganelli, and her husband, Eric Joseph Laganelli, whose love and laughter brought him immense pride; and his son, William Andrew Cofrances, who carries forward his father’s name and spirit. William is also survived by his sisters Barbara Lynn Nana, and her partner, Bruce Bernstein, Maureen Lorraine Cofrances, Beverly Ann Vriesenga, and her husband, Peter Vriesenga, and Lorraine Rose Cofrances, and her partner, Jack Christiani, each of whom shared in his lifelong appreciation for music, art, and family. His loyal companion, Ivy Rose, a dog who was as sweet and soulful as her owner, passed away shortly before William—no doubt waiting to greet him once more.

William’s music and memory will continue to resonate in the hearts of those who knew and loved him. His life was a symphony sometimes wild and improvisational, often tender and lyrical, but always profoundly human. In honoring William’s legacy, may we all take a moment to listen—to the rhythm of life, to the laughter of others, and to the music that lives within us all. “When words fail, music speaks.”
Friends may call at the PORTO FUNERAL HOME, 830 Jones Hill Rd. West Haven MONDAY from 4:00-7:00 PM and are asked to go directly to Our Lady of the Assumption Church, 81 Center Rd., Woodbridge on Tuesday for a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00. Interment in East Side Cemetery in Woodbridge will follow. Sign William's guest book online at www.portofuneralhomes.net.