Ralph DeFrancesco, 64, of East Haven died suddenly on Aug. 20. For the past 42 years he was the husband of Kathy DeCaprio DeFrancesco. Ralph was born in New Haven on July 26, 1954, to the late Sammy and Evelyn Mattei DeFrancesco.

Ralph owned and operated his own business called Top–It Sales Company. Ralph was not only a salesman and businessman, but a true people person. He loved life and his friends and treated everyone he met with equal kindness and respect, no matter who they were. He was also a devoted family man who loved spending time with his family, especially his four granddaughters, who were his light and joy. He was a sports fan who loved going to the games, especially to root for his Jets and Yankees. He had a passion for travel, food, and making homemade limoncello.

He is survived by a son, Mark Anthony (Lauren) DeFrancesco of Guilford; Lisa Marie DeFrancesco of East Haven; three brothers, John DeFrancesco of Wilton, Albert (Ann) DeFrancesco of East Haven, and Gaetano (Diane) DeFrancesco of West Haven; and four granddaughters, Makena, Addison, Gianna, and Milani.

A funeral mass was held at St. Vincent de Paul Church Aug. 23. Calling hours were Aug. 22 at East Haven Memorial Longobardi-Brennan Funeral Home, 425 Main St., East Haven, 203-467-1708. Burial was in All Saints Cemetery. Please visit Ralph’s memorial page at easthavenmemorial.com and sign his guest book.