Luisa (Mammoliti) Cappuccia, 77, passed away peacefully Sunday at Yale-New Haven Hospital, surrounded by her husband, daughters and sister.
Luisa’s final days were spent in much the same manner as she lived her life: quietly, bravely, with faith in God, and immersed in the love of her family. Although small in stature, Luisa always made a big impact on those she met. Her compassionate, unassuming nature drew people to her, her family says, and made them fall in love with her. Despite her compromised health, Luisa befriended the staff at Yale-New Haven Hospital and impressed them with her courage and kindness.
Her loss will be most deeply felt by those to whom she devoted her life. Luisa was the matriarch of a large, extended family that will miss her gentle guidance, generosity, intellect and, most of all, her big heart, which made each and every member of her family feel loved, respected and important.
Although devastated by the loss of Luisa, her family takes great joy and solace in remembering the many moments they have celebrated with Luisa during the course of her long and full life, including the 50th anniversary of her marriage to her husband Gennaro in August of 2017. The couple raised “5 Girls” together – an achievement happily publicized by the trademark license plate on their minivan – Laura (Sean) Szekely, Sandra (Rit) Ehlers, Diana Cappuccia, Linda (Bob) Grelotti, and Norma (Chris) Sabol.
Luisa spent the first seven years of her life living in a small town in the mountains of Calabria, Italy. She then moved to Valle d’aosta with her parents and sister (Tonina Chieffalo). At age 14, she emigrated to Montreal, Canada. She later moved to Danbury, Conn. before settling in Norwalk. She met her husband in 1966 and the couple married in 1967.
Much of Luisa’s adult life was spent happily driving her daughters to dance classes, sporting events and theatre productions. She regularly opened her heart and her home to their friends, making sure they were well-fed and comfortable. Later, she would do the same for her 10 grandchildren: Regan and Patrick Szekely; Chris, Brian, and Andrew Ehlers; Jake and Kaylie McCarthy; Michele and Katherine Grelotti; and Natalie Sabol. Her grandchildren were her pride and joy, and she would brag about them to anyone who would listen.
When she wasn’t immersed in her family, Luisa was an active member of the community. She was a longtime member of St. Philip Church as an acolyte and Eucharistic minister. She was the recording secretary of her bowling league and bowled with them for many years. Luisa was also the captain of her bocce team which she played with for more than 30 years. Luisa was also an active member of St. Ann’s Club where she was past-president of the Women’s Auxiliary and a member of the Board of Directors. During the Club’s annual Feast, Luisa was a staple at the pizza fritta table, expertly producing the tasty treats for customers and serving them with her trademark warm smile.
In quiet moments, she could be found doing cross-word puzzles at her kitchen table, cooking at the stove with her favorite TV shows on in the background, or volunteering. Luisa also enjoyed traveling with her husband, brother, and sister-in-law, Nicandro and Mary Ann Cappuccia (The 4 Musketeers). She spoke three languages fluently: Italian, French and English.
In addition to her husband, daughters, and grandchildren, Luisa is survived by a large, extended family: Filice and Pino Cardone, Alba and Soliman Ben-Barka, and countless cousins, nieces and nephews. She is pre-deceased by her parents (Maria and Michele Mammoliti), her baby brother (Domenico Mammoliti), brother and sister-in-law, Agnese and Gaetano DelGuidice, and brother-in-law Sal Chieffalo.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday, March 28, at 10:00 AM at St. Philip Church, 1 Father Conlon Place, Norwalk. Entombment will follow in St. John cemetery, 223 Richards Avenue, Norwalk.
Friends may call on Tuesday, March 27, from 4:00 to 8:00 PM at Collins Funeral Home. The ladies of St. Ann’s will gather for the wake at 7:00 PM. T
Luisa’s husband and daughters would like to thank the doctors and nurses at Yale-New Haven Hospital for going above and beyond in her final days, making her feel safe and supporting them until the very end.