Obituary: Ann Anita Celello Dies at 93

WOODBURY/NAUGATUCK — Mrs. Ann Anita Celello, passed away at St. Mary’s Hospital VITAS unit Monday evening January 30, 2012.  She was the wife of the late John Joseph Celello who predeceased her in 2006.

Mrs. Celello was born October 6, 1918 in the midst of the influenza epidemic, the same one that took the life of her own mother two weeks after her birth. Ann was the daughter of Nicola and Naina Anita Guerrera of Waterbury. In 1939 she married John Joseph Celello and spent 67 years together in Naugatuck where they raised their family. Mrs. Celello was a communicant of St. Francis of Assisi Church; the daughters of Isabella; the Naugatuck Women’s Club; and the Christopher Columbo Ladies Auxiliary.

Mrs. Celello was well known for her entrepreneurship in creating the “Hat House Party." Many women in the Waterbury/Naugatuck area will remember donning one of Ann’s hats for Sunday Church services or for that special wedding day of their son or daughter. She was also known for her light and sumptuous strawberry chiffon and pineapple chiffon pies.

However, Mrs. Celello will be remembered best as the mother who raised six daughters who she leaves behind: Olivia Ruel of Keene, N.H., Rita Hoey of St. Mary, Ga., Anita Healy of Woodbury, Joann Celello of Naugatuck, Susan Sebastian of Waterbury and Maryann Woodfield of New Britain.  She also leaves behind six sons-in-law who she often declared were “the best." They so adored her.

Nonnie’s unconditional love will be deeply missed by her 11 grandchildren: Theodore and Jonathan Ruel, David and Mark Hoey, Jennifer (Healy) Sockel, Carrie (Pruchnicki) Lombardo and Ronald Pruchnicki, Adam and Jeremy Sebastian, and Cross and Kolby Woodfield. The family takes comfort in knowing that their Nonnie has been reunited with their father, their Poppy and with Nonnie and Poppy’s beautiful granddaughter Ashleigh Woodfield, 1987 – 2004.  May they all rest in peace.

Arrangements – Funeral Mass and burial will be private and have been entrusted to the Alderson Funeral Home of Naugatuck, 201 Meadow St. Memorial contributions may be made to the VITAS Hospice Charitable Fund, 1579 Straits Turnpike, Suite C, Middlebury, CT 06762. To share a story, light a candle, or to place an online condolence, please visit www.aldersonfuneralhomes.com.