Pasquale Santonastaso

Santonastaso, Pasquale, 83, of 10 Canterbury Court in Cranston passed away on Wednesday, October 22, 2025, surrounded by his family and friends. He leaves his beloved wife, Josefina (Henderson), and devoted daughter, Maria, as well as his sister and other half, Maria Conte, Bella Henderson who was like a granddaughter to him, and many nieces, nephews, and lifelong friends. Pasquale was predeceased by his parents, Giuseppe and Maria (Mone) Santonastaso, as well as his brother-in-law, Antonio Conte, whom he missed every day.

Pasquale was born in Pietamelara, Italy, and emigrated to the United States in 1958, settling in the Providence area. He worked for 60 years at Esposito Jewelry, honing his craft as a toolmaker for the jewelry industry. More important than his career, it was at work where he met his “pearl of great price,” Josefina. They enjoyed 35 years of marriage and she was a tremendous support during his illness with pulmonary fibrosis. He was extremely proud of his daughter, Maria, as she became the first in her family to graduate college, became a teacher in Cranston Public Schools and last year won the prestigious Milken Educator Award.

He maintained a strong connection to his Italian heritage, making homemade wine and sausage, foraging for mushrooms, and tending an extensive garden. He was even known to deliver zeppole to the staff at his local Dunkin’ Donuts on St. Joseph’s Day. At the same time, and being very much attuned to living in the present, he quickly became established in the U.S. He made many lifelong friends in the Cranston area, including Mario, Vincenzo, Gennaro, and Sergio, who he saw regularly, and who were with him at the end. He was also a fan of the local sports teams, particularly the Patriots and (in his only source of disagreement with his late brother-in-law and Yankees fan, Tony Conte) the Red Sox. And he was very happy to have made, and been welcomed into, a second family, among his wife’s Dominican relatives.

He loved, and knew he was loved by, his family on both the Italian and Dominican sides of his family. “Surrounded by family and friends” is not simply an obituary nicety, it’s how he liked to live his life. At his passing, he was attended by 50 or so people, including many of his nieces, nephews, and grandnieces and grandnephews. The house was overflowing with love, a reflection of the way he loved. He will be particularly missed during holiday meals, where he entertained the gatherings (sometimes resulting in shocked faces and laughing until we cried) with story after story from his childhood and younger days.

You may choose to honor Pasquale’s strength and generous spirit, with donations in his memory to:

https://giving.brownhealth.org/RIH/Support-RIH (Designation: The Center for Advanced Lung Care (CALC)).

Our family extends our deepest gratitude to everyone at HopeHealth Hospice & Palliative Care, HomeCare Advantage, and Miriam Hospital for their exceptional kindness and care. Everyone who supported him in his final weeks couldn’t help but fall in love with him.

His funeral will be held on Tuesday, October 28, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. from the NARDOLILLO FUNERAL HOME & Crematory, 1278 Park Avenue, Cranston, followed by his Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 a.m. in St. Mary’s Church, Cranston. Burial will be held in St. Ann Cemetery, Cranston. VISITING HOURS: Monday from 4:00-7:00 p.m. Visit NardolilloFH.com for online condolences.