DANIEL P. DAGOSTINO

     Daniel P. Dagostino, 95 of West Warwick, RI., formerly of Hamilton Street, Worcester, passed away peacefully on Easter Sunday morning, April 4, 2021 at home surrounded by his devoted family.

Daniel was born in Worcester, a son of the late Francesco “Frank” and Catarina “Catherine” (Cataldo) Dagostino.  He attended Commerce High School and right before graduating he was drafted to the United States Navy where he served his country proudly in World War II on the USS Missouri and was the proud recipient of the World War II Victory Medal, American Theatre Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Theatre Medal with three stars.  He went back to Commerce after the Service and graduated with his high school diploma. Daniel plied several trades before finding his way to the Fire Department. He worked as a firefighter for 30 years for the City of Worcester at the former Brown Square Station on Franklin Street retiring in 1990 from Engine 6.  For a better part of those 30 years he also worked part time delivering appliances for Better Electric where he made lifelong friends. Daniel was a devoted member of St. Joseph’s Holy Family Parish in Worcester, leaving there a legacy of his craft as a carpenter to this day. He was a man of prayer, of faith and of love with never a cross word. During his time in RI, pre-COVID, he enjoyed attending Church of the Ascension, Cranston. RI with is daughter and son-in-law.

Daniel was deeply devoted to his family – to his whole family – and to some very special friends. He loved dancing and singing, especially in Church. We often caught him humming Amazing Grace, and Christmas Carols got him singing right along. He was patient, accepting, love was his rule and whatever was best for your happiness. He was witty, organized, neat and tidy, so sociable, full of stories and very creative, especially with wood. For his grandchildren he built doll cradles, wooden ride-on horses with wheels, interlocking stacking toy figures, trucks, a hand to hold rings, spice racks, and more. For himself and his children he filled our homes with decorative shelves, shoe cubbies, mitten boxes, jewelry boxes, free-standing full-length mirrors, coffee tables, end tables, armoires, closets, mailboxes, radiator covers, bookcases, a dry sink, picture frames, wall mirrors, tulips and little houses for the window ledges and more. Besides piggy back and horsy rides, one of the greatest memories of his children and grandchildren was, after every visit to Grammy and Grampy’s house, no matter how long it took to get settled in the car to go home, no matter how cold it was on the porch, Gram and Gramp would stand on the porch or at the kitchen window and peer out the window and wave until our cars were out of sight.

In recent years, with the onset and progression of dementia, multiple times a day, Daniel would check the weather to determine what kind of coat to don to get ready for Church or for when his friend, Eric Couture would come to pick him up for his Retired Men’s Club meeting. Of course, having moved to RI after his wife passed, no meeting… and with COVID-19, no Church… He was always disappointed but rolled with it. Despite the repetition he was a dream to care for – so good-natured and kind with his incessant shrug that could mean “I don’t know” or “it doesn’t matter” or “whatever you say” and with his reports of how the wind was blowing in the trees and of the movement of the distant traffic and the lights on the horizon.  Grace at meals was all encompassing, right to the end: “Thank you Lord for this day, bless all those we love, bless all those who aren’t here with us, bless those in need of your healings, bless this food, bless our evening. Amen.”

Daniel’s beloved wife of 69 years, Lucille R. (Duquette) Dagostino passed away on May 12, 2019.  After she passed, Daniel continued to look for his wife daily, and insisted, “she was just here” and when he needed something, he always called for his dear “Lou”. He leaves behind his three beloved daughters and grateful sons-in-law: Susan and Wesley Wright of West Warwick, RI with whom he lived for the past two years, Carolyn Dagostino and David D’Amore of Sutton, MA and Lisa and Scott Brown of Charlton, MA; nine grandchildren, Michael Belanger, Danielle Belanger Cellere and her husband, Tim, Adam Brown and his wife Jillian, Justin Brown and his wife Liz, Marissa Brown, Sophia and Noel Wright, Shane Wesley Howe and Latosha Fernandes and her husband Kevin; nine great-grandchildren and one on the way and one great-great-granddaughter.  Daniel also leaves four sisters-in-law, Elaine Barrus and her husband Ronnie of Holden, MA., Anita St. Armand of Hingham, Gail Duquette and Gilda Dagostino both of Worcester, a multitude of nieces, nephews, and dear friends.

Besides his parents, Daniel was predeceased by an infant daughter, Catherine Dagostino; his four brothers, Carlo Dagostino and his wife Marion, Tony Dagostino, Vincent “Jim” Dagostino and his wife Jo, and George Dagostino and his wife Peg; three sisters, Congetta Campanile and her husband Domenic, Mary Grilli and her husband Emilio and Ann Pickett; four brothers-in-law, Donald Duquette, Albert Duquette and his wife Midge, Raymond Duquette and his wife Bea and Dick St. Armand; a sister-in-law, Marcelle Potvin and her husband Emil.

Services for Daniel will be held on Saturday, April 10, 2021 from the MERCADANTE FUNERAL HOME & CHAPEL, 370 Plantation St., Worcester with a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 am in Holy Family Parish at St. Joseph’s Church, 35 Hamilton St., Worcester.  Burial will follow in Worcester County Memorial Park, Paxton.  Relatives and friends are invited to a period of calling hours on Saturday, April 10^th from 9-10:15 am in the funeral home prior to departure for his funeral Mass.  Masks and social distancing will be mandatory in the funeral home, church and at the burial. The family would like to thank Hope Health Hospice & Palliative Care for their loving of Daniel in his last months and days as well as the dedicated and caring staff of Hope Alzheimer’s Center where Daniel socialized during his time in RI.

For those unable to attend Daniel’s services, you may view them via livestream by visiting www.mercadantefuneral.com at 11 am and click on LIVE SERVICES at the top of the funeral home browser.  In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to: Hope Alzheimer’s Center, 25 Brayton Avenue, Cranston, RI. 02920