Obituary of Christy Caso

Christy Caso, devoted husband, father, and grandfather, passed away after a lengthy illness on Wednesday morning, November 24, 2010, having just celebrated his 95th birthday. Christy was born in the town of Passo di Mirabella Eclano in Southern Italy. He was the son of the late Raffaele and Prisca Caso. At the age of 13, he immigrated to the United States with his father – preparing the way for the eventual immigration of his mother, three sisters and brother. Christy lived in the North End in the same house as his future wife’s family, whom he adored. He was always a very hard worker who took on many jobs. Eventually he became a very skilled and in-demand watch repairman. In March of 1941, Christy enlisted in the Army and served as a member of the 899th Tank Destroyer Battalion whose soldiers fought in the battles in the Rhineland, Ardennes, and Central Europe. The 899th was one of the first Allied units to begin the Liberation of Belgium and held the northern flank of Ardennes during the fierce Battle of the Bulge. For their action, Christy and his fellow soldiers received the Presidential Unit Citation for their “extraordinary heroism and outstanding performance of duty in gallantly holding and extending the important Remagen bridgehead over the Rhine River from 8 to 19 March 1945.” When praised for his years of service and for receiving the Bronze Star, Christy would humbly dismiss any such accolade. Upon his return home following the end of WWII in November 1945, Christy resumed his career as a watch repairman, working until he turned 90, most of those years spent in the employ of Santisi & Bove in the Jewelers Building on Washington Street in Boston. He married Virginia Giusto in 1946, a wonderful wife, mother and great cook of Italian specialties. Christy was a simple man; he enjoyed tilling his garden, bottling tomatoes and making very potent and delicious vino. He was always a very generous husband and father, and grandfather at the ripe old age of 85. His granddaughter will miss her Nonno very much, as will his loving family. Christy leaves behind his beloved wife of 64 years, Virginia (Giusto) of Watertown, daughter Valerie Caso and her husband Mark Long of Woburn, granddaughter Mia Sara Long of Woburn, sisters Gilda Centofanti and Annina Capone of Watertown, brother Adolfo Caso and his wife Margaret of Weston, and his late sister Maria Louisa DeAngelis. Funeral from the Edward V. Sullivan Funeral Home, 43 Winn St., BURLINGTON (exit 34 off Rt. 128, Woburn side) on Monday, November 29 at 9 a.m. Followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at St. Barbara’s Church, 138 Cambridge Road, Woburn at 10 a.m. Visiting hours Sunday 3-7 p.m. Interment in St. Michael’s Cemetery, Roslindale.