PROSPECT — Mrs. Madeline “Lena” (Autore) Colagrossi, 99, of Prospect, passed away peacefully at her home to her eternal rest with the Lord on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2013. She was the wife, for 57 years, of the late Amodeo (Adam) Colagrossi.
Madeline was born in Waterbury on June 22, 1914 a daughter of the late Joseph and Maria Autore. She raised five children in Waterbury and worked at Uniroyal and Lux Clock and in her later years at the Town Plot IGA where she worked as a cashier until her retirement at the age of 65. She enjoyed gardening and crafts and especially baking and cooking. She was an excellent cook and no one left her home without a container of food. She was especially skilled at making cavatelli by hand rolling dough on a wooden bread board and using a large wooden rolling pin that her husband had crafted for her. On holidays she made all of the traditional Italian foods that her family looked forward to.
Madeline was an active member of the Prospect Senior Center and was a member of the Song Birds Singing Group. She had a special relationship with her sister Carmella. They both shared a love for the New York Yankees and would often watch a game while on the phone together.
Madeline is survived by a son, Adam Colagrossi of Waterbury; two daughters, Rosemary Summa of Prospect and Lola Buonfiglio of Watertown; three son-in-laws, Joseph Summa, Frederick Schnaars, and Albert Gutauskas, 19 grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren and seven great-great-grandchildren. The last great-grandchild, Isabelle Madeline, 2 months old, came to visit her in September and she held her in her arms. She loved babies, especially holding them. She is also survived by several nieces and nephews, whom she loved, Alan, Peter, Stephen, Anita and Jim, Janet and Louis, Fanny and her daughters, Marika and Danielle, and their children and a special grandson, Geoff and a granddaughter-in-law, Michelle. She was predeceased by two daughters, Rita Gutauskas and Dorena Schnaars; a grandson, Adam Colagrossi III and four sisters, Carmella, Antoinette, Victoria and Nancy.
Madeline’s family would like to thank Michelle B. Saunders and Shree Butler, who provided excellent care and the VNA HOPE Team Nurses and Home Health Aides for their dedication, offering comfort care measures during her final days.
The funeral will be held on Friday, Oct. 11, 2013 at 10:30 a.m. from the Prospect Memorial Funeral Home, 72 Waterbury Road, Prospect to St. Anthony Roman Catholic Church, 4 Union City Road, Prospect for a mass at 11 a.m. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery in Waterbury. Calling hours will be held at the funeral home on Friday, Oct. 11, 2013 from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place Memphis, TN 38105 or to Connecticut Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure, 74 Batterson Park Road, Farmington, CT 06032.
To place online condolences, visit www.prospectmemorial.com.