Caterina “Rina” Cuomo Grosso, 91, of East Haven, Connecticut beloved wife of the late Giuseppe Grosso, passed away on December 11, 2025 surrounded by her family at Yale New Haven Hospital. Loving mother of Dolores (Robert) Jasek of Madison; Angela (Scott) Meikle of East Haven; Anna (Enrico) Romano of Macomb, MI and Mary (Fred DiBenedetto) Grosso of North Haven. Grandmother of Evan, Joseph and Isabella Jasek; Giuliano, Emilio and Ava Romano; and Mason Scott Meikle. Sister of Margherita (Angelo) Giraulo and the late Giuseppe (Anna), Antonio (Pia), Vittorio (Ornella), Augusto (Filomena), Ottavio (Rosetta) and Antonio Cuomo. Rina was born in Furore, Salerno, Italy on December 11, 1934 daughter of the late Michele and Marianna Florio Cuomo. Prior to her retirement, Rina worked as a seamstress for Strouse Adler. Alongside her husband, Rina worked hard to fulfill their dreams of raising a family in America that had more opportunities than they had growing up in Italy. She overcame a language barrier to advocate not only for herself and her family, but also for her community to thrive and excel above expectations. She loved to get together with friends and family, hosting dinners with great food, wine and conversation that would go late into the evenings. She was a fierce advocate for her four daughters; and while she taught them to respect authority, she always told them to stand up for themselves if someone was mistreating them saying, “You are American…fight for your rights”. She was determined her children wouldn’t be disadvantaged due to their immigrant background. When her eldest was placed in ESL classes for speaking only Italian, she had her teach the younger siblings the alphabet and math using a colander and beans. She faced many challenges in her own life, including contracting polio as a child yet that made her more determined and motivated to get through them. She was a force of nature and a wonderful and loving Mamma and Nonna. She was always the life of every party, enjoying laughing and playing games including Italian cards and Tombola. She will be greatly missed by her family and close friends.
Her funeral procession will leave the PORTO FUNERAL HOME, 234 Foxon Rd. (Rte. 80), East Haven, Connecticut THURSDAY morning, December 18, 2025, at 10:30 a.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in St. Pio of Pietrelcina Parish at St. Vincent de Paul Church at 11:00 a.m. Entombment will follow in All Saints Cemetery. Family and friends may call on WEDNESDAY from 5pm to 8pm. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the East Haven Food Pantry, 39 Park Place, East Haven, CT 06512. Sign Rina's guest book online at www.portofuneralhomes.net.
