Emily Bango, age 97, of New Haven, passed away on Monday, December 5, 2022 at Yale New Haven Hospital after suffering a stroke.  She was the wife of Joseph John Bango, of New Haven, who passed away in June of 2013.  She leaves behind two children -- Elisa J. Franklin (née Bango) of Tucson, AZ (husband Richard), and Joseph Bango, Jr. of Cheshire (wife Jeni) – and two grandchildren, Joseph and Arianna Bango, also of Cheshire.  She was predeceased by her two half-brothers - Joseph Carretta of FL, and Dominick Cafaro of Groton – and a full brother Frank Cafaro, also of Groton.  Emily was born April 22, 1925 in Jersey City as Amelia Marie Cafaro to Alesantro Antonio and Euphemia Ilvento Cafaro, who both immigrated to the United States from Southern Italy and were married in the US. She adopted the first name Emily early in life and, using that name, graduated from Synder High School in Jersey City in 1942, having been named the most artistic girl in her graduating class. After the family moved to Groton, Emily worked at Lighthouse Inn as an event planner and later became the administrative assistant to the Executive Officer of the Navy Submarine Base there where she met and married her husband, Joe, on December 1, 1945.  They settled in New Haven, only a few blocks from where they would return from the suburbs of North Branford to purchase their final house that they lived in together for more than 50 years.  After her children were older, Emily returned to school at Paier Art College in Hamden where she graduated at the top of her class and subsequently became part of the American Society of Interior Designers.  Along with fellow graduate, James Christopher, they established their own interior design firm, Bango & Christopher, with a wide client base across Connecticut and extending even to Florida.  She enjoyed cooking all types of cuisines and entertaining guests in her Spanish style stucco home she loved and lived in until her death, and of course, doting on her beloved grandchildren.  Friends are invited to attend a prayer service THURSDAY at 10:30 a.m. in the Peter H. Torello & Son F.H. 1022 Dixwell Ave., Hamden, and may call Thursday morning from 8:30 - 10:30 a.m. interment will follow in St. Lawrence cemetery. Contributions to the American Stroke Association https://www.stroke.org in her name in lieu of flowers would be greatly appreciated by the family.