Dorothy “Dolly” Bruno, 78, of Orange, Conn., died July 4 at her home. Born September 27, 1935, in Bridgeport to Dorothy and Thomas  Vastano, she was the beloved wife to Americo Bruno for 51 years. Americo “Ric” Bruno, 82, of Orange died July 9 at Yale-New Haven hospital. Born December 28, 1931, in Bridgeport to Anna and Frank  Bruno, he was married November 17, 1963, to Dorothy Vastano.

A longtime resident of Stratford and Sandy Hook, Ms Bruno spent 15 years of retirement in Mexico with her husband.

Ms Bruno’s beautiful smile and contagious laugh were her trademarks. Her greatest joy in life was her daughter, Lynda.

Her daughter Lynda Pasquarella and husband Wayne of Shelton; and a sister, Doris Simmonds of Vero Beach, Fla., survive Ms Bruno, as do his sons Richard Bruno, and wife Joyce, of Jonesboro, Maine, and Ronald Bruno, and wife Tess, and granddaughter Natasha, of Torrance, Calif.

Ms Bruno was predeceased by a son, Thomas Bruno, and brothers Vincent and Lawrence Vastano.

Entombment for both will be in St Michael cemetery in Stratford. Services will be private.

Memorial donations for Ms Bruno may be made to St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis TN 38105; for Mr Bruno to Disabled American Veterans, PO Box 14301, Cincinnati OH 45250-0301.

The family wishes to thank the staff of Yale-New Haven Hospitals Saint Raphael and York Street campuses for all their care and support.

Online condolences may be made by visiting www.spadaccinofuneralhome.com.