Calixto Fonseca
October 8, 1920 ~ April 14, 2018 (age 97) 97 Years Old
Tribute
Calixto Fonseca, 97 of Westerly, passed away peacefully surrounded by the love of his family on Saturday, April 14, 2018. He was the loving husband of Carmen (Rivera) Fonseca and together they shared 66 years of marriage until her death in 2014. Born in Toa Alta, Puerto Rico on October 8, 1920, he was one of 16 children of the late Lorenzo and Alejandrina (Ayala) Fonseca.
Calixto served his country proudly in the U.S. Army during WWII. Following the service he came to New York City in 1946 and began working at the Roosevelt Hotel in Manhattan. During his 36 years there, he earned his way through the positions at the hotel and upon retirement in 1982, he was the Chef Steward responsible for a staff of over 30 people. Calixto was responsible for overseeing large events and banquets and had even hosted a Women Right’s event for Eleanor Roosevelt and also got to meet her. He truly showed that hard work and dedication could lead to an amazing career. But above all, family was first and foremost. He was a simple man who only needed the roof over his head, the meal made by his dear wife and his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren around him to be happy. He will be dearly missed by all who knew him.
He leaves his children Calixto Fonseca, Jr. and his wife Gail of Tucson, AZ and Eleanor Davis Murphy and her husband Michael Murphy of Westerly; his grandchildren Mark Davis and his wife Crystal of Hopkinton, Michael Davis and his fiancée Sarah Ordway of Pawcatuck, CT, Anthony Davis of Ledyard, CT, Katie Fonseca of Phoenix, AZ and Aaron Fonseca and his wife Pauline of Phoenix, AZ ; his great-grandchildren Eziah Davis, Maxwell Davis, Carmen Davis, Xavier Davis, Alex Fonseca and Bailey Fonseca; along with hundreds of nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his 15 siblings.
Calling hours will be held Tuesday, April 17, 2018 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00p.m. at the Buckler-Johnston Funeral Home, 121 Main Street, Westerly, RI. A Funeral Mass will be held at the St. Pius X Church in Westerly, RI at 10:00am on Wednesday, April 18, 2018. Family and friends are invited to meet at the funeral home at 9:00a.m. the morning of the funeral to go in procession to the church. Burial will immediately follow the mass at the RI Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Exeter.
Calixto served his country proudly in the U.S. Army during WWII. Following the service he came to New York City in 1946 and began working at the Roosevelt Hotel in Manhattan. During his 36 years there, he earned his way through the positions at the hotel and upon retirement in 1982, he was the Chef Steward responsible for a staff of over 30 people. Calixto was responsible for overseeing large events and banquets and had even hosted a Women Right’s event for Eleanor Roosevelt and also got to meet her. He truly showed that hard work and dedication could lead to an amazing career. But above all, family was first and foremost. He was a simple man who only needed the roof over his head, the meal made by his dear wife and his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren around him to be happy. He will be dearly missed by all who knew him.
He leaves his children Calixto Fonseca, Jr. and his wife Gail of Tucson, AZ and Eleanor Davis Murphy and her husband Michael Murphy of Westerly; his grandchildren Mark Davis and his wife Crystal of Hopkinton, Michael Davis and his fiancée Sarah Ordway of Pawcatuck, CT, Anthony Davis of Ledyard, CT, Katie Fonseca of Phoenix, AZ and Aaron Fonseca and his wife Pauline of Phoenix, AZ ; his great-grandchildren Eziah Davis, Maxwell Davis, Carmen Davis, Xavier Davis, Alex Fonseca and Bailey Fonseca; along with hundreds of nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his 15 siblings.
Calling hours will be held Tuesday, April 17, 2018 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00p.m. at the Buckler-Johnston Funeral Home, 121 Main Street, Westerly, RI. A Funeral Mass will be held at the St. Pius X Church in Westerly, RI at 10:00am on Wednesday, April 18, 2018. Family and friends are invited to meet at the funeral home at 9:00a.m. the morning of the funeral to go in procession to the church. Burial will immediately follow the mass at the RI Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Exeter.
To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.
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