It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our pug Vito. We had to put him to sleep last night after discovering he was dying slowly (and painfully) from inoperable cancer. He was just six years old.

Our family gathered in a small room at Angell Memorial and said our goodbyes.  It was devastatingly beautiful.  There were tears and laughs and lots of hugs and kisses.  We told him over and over that he was a good boy.  And he was.  Those six years with Vito were packed with love and joy. His happy face always watching you.  His insistence on laying across your lap. How he enjoyed taking happy walks around the neighborhood or going for a swim wearing a lifejacket. His excited barks to greet the takeout delivery person.  The way he cried howls of joy when you returned home.  How he leapt from the comfort of our warm bed when he heard the sound of the refrigerator door open and the cold cut bags removed to make school lunches in the morning. He never moved as fast as he did to get his morning piece of ham or turkey.

He was happy to be part of our family and we were blessed he was a member. He was sweet, joyful and loved each of us unconditionally. As we said our goodbyes, we could see by his big brown eyes, he was ready to sleep – one of his favorite things to do – second only to eating.  So we each kissed him softly on his weary head and reminded him one last time that he truly was a good boy.

Vito leaves behind his mom Maureen, his dad Peter, his sister Grace, and his brothers Peter and Henry.  He will be missed but will live on in our hearts forever.