Giuseppe Giucastro, age 77 (1940-2017) of Westfield, Massachusetts, passed away on Thursday, December 21, 2017 surrounded by his loving family. He was born in Buccheri, Sicily to the late Vito and Grazia (Inganne) Giucastro on January 15, 1940. He moved to the United States in 1960 after spending two years in Venezuela where he perfected his skill as a hairdresser. Once in the United States he soon found work in Hartford as a hairdresser hardly able to believe that he was living the American dream. In the years to come, he also worked as a hairdresser in Springfield and New York City. In New York City, he was able to buy his own beauty salon, and to enjoy the benefits of living in the city, one of which was to attend the opera. At times, he could be heard singing some of the arias from his favorite opera, La Traviata. Later, he entered the restaurant business in Connecticut when he began to help his sister and brother-in-law in their pizzeria. When the couple returned to Sicily, Giuseppe took over their business and opened several other restaurants in Connecticut. In his thirties, he became interested in writing, and through this interest, he became lasting friends with Professor Joseph Tobia, his wife Rosalie, and their family. Upon retirement, he returned to his hometown in Sicily and set up an organization to provide music lessons to children and youth there. On a trip back to Westfield to visit his daughter and family in 2013, he met his future wife, who also was a writer, and they were married in August, 2016. In their few years together, they spent much time in writing, and in June 2017, Giuseppe published his first book, Another Face of God, a dream come true. Giuseppe was predeceased by his parents Vito and Grazia Giucastro and his sister, Giovanna Giucastro. He is survived by his wife, Judith (Palmer) Foard-Giucastro, his children, Tinamarie Fioroni, Daniela Gilbert, and Michael Gilbert, his grandchildren, John and his wife Donna and Annemarie Fioroni, his son-in-law, Michael Fioroni, his sister, Gaetana Ciurcina, and his step children, Lawrence C. Foard and spouse, Eric Bowman, and La Rue Reed and her husband, Steven. The funeral service was held on Saturday, December 23, 2017 at Second Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, Westfield. Burial will be later in Buccheri, Sicily. The family would like to thank those medical health professionals who so diligently cared for Giuseppe during his illness, namely, Dr. Roger Beneitone, Dr.Krishnan Babu, Dr. Andrew Wagner, Dr. David Einstein, and Dr. Brian Halbert. Also the family wishes to thank the staff of Baystate Hospital, Springfield, the oncology unit doctors, nurses, and staff of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, and the Baystate Visiting Nurses and Hospice Services. Memorial contributions may be made to Behavioral Health Networks, The Carson Center, 77 Mill Street, Westfield or Westfield Food Pantry, 101 Meadow Street, Westfield. www.firtionadams.com
