Caroline (Scalise) DeFrancesco, 96, formerly of Meriden, passed away peacefully, Saturday, April 26, 2025, at the Hebrew Home for Health and Rehabilitation in West Hartford.  She was the loving wife of the late Anthony DeFrancesco.

Caroline was born in Meriden, June 9, 1928, a daughter of the late Peter Scalise and Rosina (Maletta) Scalise.  She attended public schools in Meriden and had been a lifelong resident.  Caroline was employed by Canberra Industries Inc. and was a parishioner of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church.

She is survived by three sons and one daughter, John DeFrancesco and his wife Sandy of Windsor CT, Robert DeFrancesco and his wife Jeannine of Wayland MA,  Peter DeFrancesco and his wife Sorcha of Mendon, MA, and daughter Emily Blechert and husband Richard of North Carolina; 10 grandchildren Anthony and Joseph DeFrancesco, Erin VanWilgen and Erika Blechert, Isabella and Megan DeFrancesco and Dante, Lucca and Gabriella DeFrancesco and Sam O'Cuimin; and three great grandchildren.  She is also survived by her sister Mary Bernetti; her sisters-in-law Henrietta Scalise and Delores Scalise; several nieces; and nephews.  She was predeceased by her sister Josephine Caffrey and her husband George; her two brothers Nicholas Scalise and Joseph Scalise.

The DeFrancesco family will receive relatives and friends at the Meriden Memorial Funeral Home, 450 Broad St., Saturday, May 3, 2025, from 8:30 a.m. until 10:00 a.m.  A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. in Our Lady Queen of Angels Parish, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church in Meriden. Caroline will be laid to rest in Sacred Heart Cemetery.  In lieu of flowers, gifts in memory of Caroline may be sent to the Alzheimer's Association, CT. Chapter, 200 Executive Boulevard, Suite 4B, Southington, CT. 06489.