Obituaries
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Obituary for Maureen Gilardi
GILARDI - Maureen (Trent) Gilardi, age 73, of Stratford, beloved wife of The Honorable Richard P. Gilardi, passed away peacefully on Sunday, March 22, 2015 in Connecticut Hospice, Branford, surrounded by her cherished family after a long and courageous battle with Parkinson Disease. She was born and raised in Stratford, daughter of the late George and Marion (McGrath) Trent. Maureen was a member of the second graduating class of St. James School, a graduate of Lauralton Hall and majored in business at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, where she received a Paralegal Certificate. Maureen worked with the Law Firms of Boardman, Stoddard & McCarthy and Smyth, Oburshay & Halloran. She also initially helped set up her husband Richard’s law partnership in 1975, known as Zanella & Gilardi, where she worked until 1996. In 1997, Maureen opened the first accredited residential respite center in Connecticut, The Maureen E. Gilardi Respite Care Center, which was located in the heart of Stratford’s Historic District. Designed to have the old world charm of a Victorian Inn, Maureen’s respite center provided her guests and their families with the warm comfort feeling of home. Maureen was a member of St. Mark’s Parish in Stratford, St. Mark’s Ladies Guild, Court St. Cecilia, Catholic Daughters of America, Gaelic American Club and a former member of the Stratford Republican Ladies Club and Shakespeare Civitan Club. She also volunteered in all capacities for the local and state Republican Party. Maureen also served on the Federal Board of Directors for the Stratford Chapter of the American Red Cross. She was second Vice President for the Stratford Chapter of the American Red Cross and was on the Board of Directors for the South End Community Center, where she had given Christmas and Easter parties for the children for many years. Maureen was also a member of Stratford’s Commission on Aging and was named to Stratford’s Health Task Force. In addition to her husband of 40 years, Richard, Maureen is survived by her daughters, Debby Kehlenbach and her husband Ralph of East Haven, Aline Carroll and her husband Tom of Saunderstown, RI; son, Ross Gilardi and his wife Christy of New Rochelle, NY and their children Lena and Lucas; sister-in-law, Barbara Benavides of E. Greenwich, RI and several cousins, nieces and nephews. Maureen also leaves her loving, longtime friend and companion, Evelyn “Cookie” Cortez, as well as her beloved friends, Donna Burns, Thomas & Cathy D’Aulizio, Debbie & Allen Schlein, Kevin & Marybeth Conlisk, Patricia Morrisey & William O’Brien, Kurt and Kathy Ahlberg, Grace DeLuca, Milly Miller, Linda Manos, Joyce Pastor, Kadie Williams and Joanne Dostie. She is predeceased by her beloved dog, Molly. Friends are invited to attend her Mass of Christian Burial on Thursday, March 26, 2015 at 10:30 a.m. by meeting directly at St. James Church, 2070 Main St. Stratford. Interment will follow in Union Cemetery, Stratford. Calling hours will be Wednesday, March 25, 2015 from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. in the William R. McDonald Funeral Home, 2591 Main St., Stratford. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Maureen’s memory to the National Parkinson Foundation Inc., 200 S.E. First Street, Miami, FL 33131, http://www.parkinson.org/Donation-Options.aspx. For additional information or to share an online condolence, please visit www.wrmcdonaldfuneralhome.com.
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Previous Events
Visitation
Wednesday
25
Mar
4:00 PM
- 8:00 PM
William R. McDonald Funeral Home
2591 Main Street
Stratford, CT 06615
Funeral Mass of Christian Burial
Thursday
26
Mar
10:30 AM
Saint James Church
2070 Main Street
Stratford, CT 06615
Interment
Thursday
26
Mar
12:00 PM
Union Cemetery
Temple Court
Stratford, CT 06615
Memorial Contribution
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