Obituary of Liberatore Cortina

Liberatore (Lino) Cortina, age 92, of Trumbull, passed away peacefully on Saturday, June 1, 2024 at his residence surrounded by his loving family. Born on September 6, 1931 in Ripi, Province of Frosinone, Italy, he was a son of the late Augusto and Rosa (Zangrilli) Cortina. Lino came to the United States with his twin brother Gino in 1948. They had followed their father, who had come several years earlier. In their early years in America, the two brothers worked at various jobs, most notably as assistants to their father as live-in groundskeepers and caretakers at St. Margaret Shrine in Bridgeport. Eventually, they were joined by their mother, their brother Albert, their sister Vincenza and her new husband Biagio. They all settled in a four-family house in the Black Rock section of Bridgeport. He returned to Ripi in 1959 to visit his grandfather, and while there, he met and married his first wife Filomena. They returned to Bridgeport to establish their family. Eventually, Lino, his parents, and his siblings and their growing families moved to Trumbull, where they all settled within a mile of each other. This continued a life-long emphasis of staying close to each other.

Lino worked for many years in construction as a cement mason, and then as a machinist for Sikorsky Aircraft, from where he retired. Several years after his wife Filomena passed, he married Lina Ferrante, who was also widowed. In the process, he added a stepdaughter, her husband and their family. In a world where most people have difficulty finding one good mate, Lino was blessed to find two. Together with Lina, he spent his retirement years watching their grandchildren and great-grandchildren grow, keeping himself busy with his garden, and working on as many projects as he could find and/or create at his own residence, the houses of his extended family and friends, and at his Church.

Along with his family, his faith was most important in his life. He was an active member of Christ the King Parish since 1967 and attended Mass regularly. He often donated his time and talents for construction to the Parish. Most importantly, he maintained friendships with the parishioners and with many of the clergy that have served there over the years, even after they had left the Parish. May is the month of the Blessed Virgin Mary, June the month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. That Lino passed a few hours after May and gave way to June is symbolically fitting, as he passed from the protection of Mary, on whose intercession he relied while on earth, to the heavenly care of Jesus, to whom he affectionately referred to as "Everybody's Boss".

Survivors include his beloved wife, Lina Ferrante Cortina, a son, Dino Cortina, his daughter, Linda Lisi and her husband Michael, his cherished granddaughters, Julia and Rose Lisi; a stepdaughter, Palma Flewellyn and her husband Joseph; his step grandchildren Laura Halovatch and her husband Jeff, and Joseph Flewellyn; his step great grandchildren, Ava, Olivia and Ryan Halovatch; two sisters-in-law, Sebastiana Cortina of Trumbull and Vincenza Cortina-Pullo of Ripi; and many nieces and nephews, all of whom he loved very much. He was predeceased by his first wife, Filomena Cortina, his sister, Vincenza Pullo and her husband Biagio, a brother, Albert Cortina, his twin brother, Gino Cortina and his wife Silvana, and his brother-in-law Gino Pullo. The family would also like to extend their heartfelt thanks to his caregiver, Barbara Hendricks, for the excellent care she provided to Lino over the last two and a half years.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday, June 6, 2024 at 10:30 a.m. in Christ the King Church, 4700 Madison Ave., Trumbull. Entombment will follow in St. Michael Cemetery Chapel Mausoleum, Stratford. Friends may greet the family on Wednesday from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Abriola Parkview Funeral Home, 419 White Plains Rd. Trumbull.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in memory of Lino Cortina to Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, Highland View Rd., Cumberland, RI 02864

Thanks, Dad/Papa. We love you forever. Rest in Peace.