Michele Buonaiuto, 87, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his loving family on Good Friday, April 14, 2017. He was a resident of Poughkeepsie for 57 years.
Born in Moschiano (Avellino) Italy on December 2, 1929, he was the son of the late Vincenzo Buonaiuto and Filomena (Manfredi) Buonaiuto. Mike was a parishioner of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church and a lifelong member of the Italian Center in Poughkeepsie.
As a young boy, Mike was trained by his father and mother in the art of Italian culinary baking. Mike perfected his talent and sometime after serving in the Italian Army, he went on to become a professional Italian Pastry Chef and opened his own Café in Moschiano, Italy where he proudly worked alongside his mother and siblings.
Mike married his loving wife Maria (Volino) Buonaiuto in a beautiful ceremony in Pompei, Italy on July 18, 1959.
Mike held tight to his family recipes and wished to share them again as he settled with his wife in America. He worked as a pastry chef at Caffe Aurora in Poughkeepsie while dreaming to someday open his own bakery again to continue his well honored traditions. He worked diligently and in the summer of 1974, he proudly opened LA DELIZIOSA PASTRY SHOPPE on Mt. Carmel Square in Poughkeepsie. At the bakery, Mike worked alongside his devoted wife, Maria, and their four children. Mike also employed many friends, new acquaintances, and of course family. Mike is known by many to be a person who made a dream become a reality when he offered his special baking talents for all to enjoy. His love for his family, people, and baking made lasting memories for the local community, and Mike Buonaiuto’s original recipes live on today at La Deliziosa Pastry Shoppe. He will be sadly missed, but will be remembered forever. Rest in peace, “Nonno”!
In addition to his loving and devoted wife Maria of 58 years, he is survived by his daughter and son-in-law Filomena and Brian Dimisko of Hyde Park; son and daughter-in-law Federico and Loredana Buonaiuto of Whippany, NJ; daughters Enza and Michelle Buonaiuto of Poughkeepsie; his beloved grandchildren Brianna and Anna Marisa Dimisko of Hyde Park, and Sabrina, Michael, Susanna, and Marco Buonaiuto of Whippany, NJ; his sister Maria Napolitano of Naples, Italy and his brother and sister-in-law Pasquale and Giuseppina Buonaiuto of Naples, Italy. Mike was predeceased by a brother Federico Buonaiuto, and three brothers-in-law Domenico Napolitano, Vincenzo Scala, and Sabato Volino
Our family wishes to thank Dr. Michael Gaesser, Dr. Anthony Messina, and the staff at the Cardiac Rehabilitation Center (particularly Linda, Kristen, and Rich) for their years of dedicated care to our dad. We also thank his gentle and caring team and on-call nurses at Hudson Valley Hospice. A special thank you to Franz Pierre who took good care of our dad during his final days. We are forever grateful to you all. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hudson Valley Hospice, 374 Violet Avenue, Poughkeepsie, New York 12601 or a charity of your choice.
Calling hours will be held on Sunday, April 23, 2017, from 3-7pm, at the William G. Miller Funeral Home, Inc., 371 Hooker Avenue, Poughkeepsie, NY 12603. A mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, April 24, 2017 at 10:30am at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, Poughkeepsie. Entombment will take place in St. Peter’s Cemetery Mausoleum in Poughkeepsie. If you wish to send an online condolence please visit our website at www.wmgmillerfuneralhome.com

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