Mary Louise (O’Connell) Cacchillo, 83, of Wethersfield, beloved wife of Rocco F. Cacchillo, departed this life on Thursday, September 10, 2009, surrounded by her loving family, after a short, but courageous battle with Melanoma. The youngest of six children of Irish immigrants, Daniel and Mary Elizabeth (Mullen) O’Connell, Mary was born on July 13, 1926 in Norwichtown, CT. She graduated from Norwich Free Academy in 1944 and UCONN in 1948. A resident of New Britain for over 50 years, Mary taught 4th grade at St. Mary’s School, while completing her Master’s Degree in Elementary Education at CCSC. She then taught 6th grade at Lincoln Elementary and Slade Middle Schools for the next 24 years, retiring in 1992. In 2003, Mary and Rocco moved to Wethersfield. During her retirement years, Mary kept herself busy with organizing tours for the New Britain AARP, as well as being an active member in the Wethersfield AARP and the Church of The Incarnation Women’s Club, where she was a faithful communicant. Mary also was a 2nd grade teaching assistant at St. Joseph School in New Britain for many years where she was affectionately known as “Miss Mary”. In addition to her husband of 56 years, Mary leaves her daughter, Jeanne and her husband, Timothy Kehoe of East Hartford; her son Robert, and his wife, Lisa, of Berlin and her cherished grandson, Andrew Kehoe. Mary is also survived by her sisters, Margaret O’Connell of Norwich and Kathryn Schmitt of Appleton, WI, as well as several nieces and nephews, especially Michael Slamon and his wife Joanne, of Windsor and many dear friends and neighbors. Mary was predeceased by her beloved son, Thomas, her sister, Ann and brothers, John and Geoffrey. The family wishes to thank the staff of the Hospice Care Unit of the VNA of Central CT, especially Nurse Ilona and Aide Sally for their compassion and care of Mary during these past few weeks. A Mass of Christian Burial celebrating Mary’s life will be held Monday, September 14, 2009 at 10:30 am directly in the Church of The Incarnation, 544 Prospect St, Wethersfield. Interment will follow in St. Mary’s Cemetery, (St. Peter section), 1309 Stanley St, New Britain. Friends and relatives may call on the family, Sunday, September 13, 2009, from 4-8pm at the Farley-Sullivan Funeral Home, 34 Beaver Rd, Wethersfield. The family asks that in lieu of flowers. In honor of Mary’s dedication to education and pride in her Irish heritage, memorial donations be made in Mary’s name to the Scholarship Fund of the Irish American Home Society, Commerce St, Glastonbury, CT. 06033. For online expressions of sympathy or for further information, please visit farleysullivan.com.
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