Raffaele D’Arco, 89, passed away May 19, 2021, surrounded by his loving family. Born in Fisciano, Italy, he was the son of the late Pasquale & Maria (Donadio) D’Arco. Immigrating to America in 1970, he was employed by Carando Foods, and then Smith & Wesson from where he retired. Raffaele’s famiglia was at the forefront of his life. They enjoyed Sunday dinners, traditional Italian activities such as canning tomatoes, preparing sopresata & prosciutto, and picking wild mushrooms & strawberries; special occasions were always enjoyed together. Later, the addition of grandchildren & great-grandchildren enriched his life even more; he was a very proud Nonno. He was an avid, accomplished, hunter, he rarely came home empty handed, and gardener, he could grow anything & anyone looking for him knew to just check the yard; he did both with passion all the while teaching his family to do so. He loved, his friends, “Come have a cup of coffee.” or, “Come over and we eat something together.” were sentiments spoken frequently, and traveling annually to see his family & the countryside of his beloved “Old Country” - Italy. Raffaele will be dearly missed by his sons, Pasquale, Gabriele, Giuseppe, & Raffaele, daughter, Anna Maria Colacci & husband Angelo, siblings Giuseppe & Cenzina D’Arco of Italy, cherished grandchildren, Cristina Welch & husband Jeff, Nella Colacci, Clementina D’Arco, Stefano Colacci, Gabriel D’Arco, Brenden D’Arco, Madeline D’Arco, Giuseppe Lee D’Arco, and adored great-grandchildren, Owen, Teagan & Brock Welch. He was predeceased by his wife, Clementina (Calabrese) D’Arco, and grandson Marco Colacci. Family and friends are invited to Raffaele’s Liturgy of Christian Burial, Wednesday, May 26, 10 a.m. at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, followed by his entombment in Most Holy Redeemer Mausoleum at Gate of Heaven Cemetery. Masks and social distancing required. Memorial contributions may be made to Shriners Hospitals for Children - Springfield, 516 Carew St., Springfield, MA 01104.