Irene Rita (Tiso) Coschigano, 81, of Hartford, CT, passed away peacefully at home on August 3, 2024, with her loving son beside her, holding her hand. She had been receiving exceptional nursing care from Trinity Health at Home Hospice since March as she bravely endured the final stage of COPD while in the care of her son and son-in-law.

Irene was born in Mount Vernon, NY, on July 25, 1943, to Guerino and Assunta (Andreotti) Tiso. She resided in Mount Vernon for more than 35 years before relocating, initially to Yorktown Heights, NY, and then several towns in Dutchess County, NY, mostly Fishkill, where she cherished frequent visits with her daughter and grandchildren. She spent her final 13 years living in Hartford.

Irene’s mother was a dressmaker and her father a cloakmaker; for a time they owned their own blouse- and coat-making shops in Mount Vernon. Irene was quite skilled around the sewing machine herself. As a young mother she occasionally made her own clothes and garments for her children, such as her daughter's junior prom dress and outfits for her dolls; hand puppets; and costumes for her children's school plays, including one for her son’s first grade stage debut as a munchkin in the Lincoln School production of “The Wizard of Oz.”

Irene graduated from Edison High School, Class of 1962. She worked in Mount Vernon before becoming a homemaker. She was subsequently employed in retail positions, primarily by Waldbaum’s and, later, department stores G. Fox, Filene’s and Macy’s.

Irene wed Robert Coschigano on April 19, 1964, whom she had known since the age of 13. A devoted wife, mother and grandmother, she raised two children with Bobby by her side until his death in 2006. Irene enjoyed cooking and worked tirelessly over the years to ensure happy and festive family gatherings, preparing specialties like lasagna and eggplant parmigiana and annual holiday treats of struffoli at Christmas and Easter meat pie.

Upon moving to Hartford, Irene served on the board of her condominium association at the Woodland House and volunteered in the gift shop at Saint Francis Hospital. She enjoyed going to movies and attending theater performances with her son and son-in-law, especially at The Bushnell, Hartford Stage, and Goodspeed Opera House, with many Broadway shows in New York and occasional summer theater in the Berkshires. Irene did not travel extensively but thoroughly enjoyed trips to Maine, Florida and Washington, DC.

Irene was predeceased by her husband Robert; parents Guerino and Assunta Tiso; parents-in-law Joseph and Esther (Altomari) Coschigano; half-sisters and their spouses Josephine and Thomas Cappellino, Virginia and Louis Pezzella, and Eleanor and Joseph Russo; half-brother Pat Tiso and wife Rita; brother-in-law Joseph Coschigano and wife Mary; and brother-in-law Ronald Farrington.

Irene is survived by her son Anthony Coschigano and his husband, Randall Madore; her daughter Carolyn Marma and her husband, Dennis; grandchildren Emily and Michelle Marma; several nieces and nephews; and her sister-in-law Rosemarie (Coschigano) Farrington, with whom she enjoyed many happy phone calls and family gatherings and some occasional teenage misadventures. Irene was well-loved by those who had the privilege of knowing her; she will be remembered always and greatly missed.

Friends may call at The Ahern Funeral Home, 180 Farmington Ave., Hartford, CT, on Friday, August 9th, 2024, from 4:30-6:30pm. Additionally, friends may call at the McHoul Funeral Home, Inc., 895 Route 82, Hopewell Junction, NY, on Monday, August 12th, 2024, from 9:30-10:30am followed by the Funeral Liturgy in St. Denis Church, 602 Beekman Road, Hopewell Junction, NY, at 11:00am. Burial will be in St. Denis Cemetery, Hopewell Junction, NY. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105. To send online condolences to the family, please visit either www.ahernfuneralhome.com or www.mchoulfuneralhome.com.