WATERBURY — Theresa A. Gratton, 83, passed away peacefully at her home on Sunday, Oct. 16, 2016. She was fortunate to have her family and friends visit and comfort her throughout the last days of her life.
Theresa was born on, March 26, 1933, the daughter of the late Casimir and Mary (Zolkiewicz) Szantyr of Waterbury.
Terri lived most of her life in Waterbury. She graduated from Waterbury Catholic High in 1951.
She began work as an office secretary with the Hayden Company. During that time, she also pursued a modeling career and ultimately becoming Miss Waterbury
She later moved on her professional career as a dental assistant for an oral surgeon in West Hartford for many years. Terri just loved serving the church, from working as a secretary at Sacred Heart in New Britain to St. Stanislus in Waterbury and St Hedwig’s in Naugatuck, and using her passion and talent for music to play as an organist in many churches in Connecticut. However, “her church” has always been St. Stanislaus Kostka in Waterbury. She was a parishioner there all her life and served there for years alongside her family volunteering for many church activities. Even after she retired she continued to be an organist at St Hedwig’s and St. Stanislaus up until her recent illness. Theresa enjoyed gardening, swimming in the pool, having picnics, but most of all just spending time with family and friends.
She is survived by her loving daughter and caregiver, Deborah Santora, husband, Ronald, and two grandchildren, Christopher and Jeffrey. She has several nieces and nephews, including Linda Condon, Pat Halfon, Marge Lowe and Gale Mucci, who are very dear to her heart. Also several great nieces and nephews Teresa was predeceased by her loving husband, Richard, as well as her brothers, Peter, Robert, Stanley, Paul, Anthony, Frank, Rev. John; and her sisters, Sr. Mary Patricia, Mary Yezierski, and “Sandy Jo.”
A funeral service will be held on Friday, Oct. 21, 2016, at 8 a.m. from Naugatuck Valley Memorial Funeral Home, 240 North Main St., Naugatuck, to St. Stanislaus Kostka Church, 86 East Farm St., Waterbury, for a Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. Burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery, Waterbury. Family and friends may call at the funeral home on Friday, Oct. 21, 2016 from 8 a.m. until time of service.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to, Harold Lever in Waterbury or Last Post Shelter, PO Box 259, Falls Village, CT 06031, an organization which helps animals when their owners pass away or go to nursing homes.
To leave online condolences, visit us at www.naugatuckvalleymemorial.com.
