Franco Ialeggio Obituary

Franco Ialeggio, the husband of Kiriaki Ialeggio, died at home on May 24, 2025. Franco was 84 years old.

He was born in Pesco Sannita, Italy on May 19, 1941 to Maria Molinara and Marco Donato Ialeggio. Franco lived a rich life, leaving Italy as a young man for work in Switzerland. There he met Kiriaki Papadopoulos and learned to speak Greek just so he could talk to her! They married in Switzerland and began their family with the birth of their first two daughters, Daniela and Nicoletta. Soon after, they immigrated to Montreal where their third daughter, Loredana was born. After several years, they made their way to Norwalk where they raised their family and have lived ever since.

Franco could do anything with his hands and he worked many jobs in his life. He was a professional welder at Nash Engineering, Leak and Nelson and Peabody Engineering. After a series of injuries at work he retired early. While he certainly didn't want to retire, this freed his time for working even more in his garden, making wine, and helping his daughters and their growing families; painting their houses, putting in a new fence, fixing cabinets, and many other jobs that only he could do! Franco also got to play one of his most cherished roles, that of Nonno!! He was able to help all three of his daughters and their husbands, happily babysitting for all his grandchildren! Really with Kiriaki he helped raise his grandchildren!

Franco was very involved in his community especially as a proud member of the Knights of Columbus Council 46 and the St. Ann's Club where he loved to volunteer. He was always helping at their dinners and shared his time raising funds for the Knight's many causes. In 2014 he was honored as Knight of the Year. In addition, for 32 years he donated blood twice a year to the Red Cross.

Franco was a family man through and through! We knew we could always count on him to help with anything around the house, watch the kids, make a joke, and grab a bottle of wine from the cellar. He loved to talk to everyone and had the gift of the gab. In addition, he loved to read the Norwalk Hour, cover to cover and enjoyed watching Italian TV especially soccer!

Franco is survived by his wife of 59 years, Kiriaki and his three daughters and their husbands: Daniela (Joe), Nicoletta (Tom), and Loredana (Arturo). He is also survived by his loving grandchildren: Michael (Alexis), Megan and Matthew O'Callaghan, Alex and Christopher Migacz, and Roberto and Marco DeSantis; his brothers and sister in Italy; and many nieces and nephews.

Calling hours are 5-7pm on Wednesday May 28th at Magner Funeral home, 12 Mott Avenue in Norwalk. A funeral Mass will be held at St Thomas Church, 203 East Ave. Norwalk on Thursday May 29th at 10 am.