Obituary of Theresa Carilli

Theresa ("Terry") Carilli passed away on March 4th at home in Stratford surrounded by family. She came into this world on September 2, 1937 as Theresa Rose Forte born to Elvira Franchetti and Vito Forte in New York City. After graduating from Christopher Columbus High School in the Bronx, she worked in Manhattan, spending her lunch hours shopping 5th Avenue and putting her fashion finds on lay-away until payday. In 1958 she married Robert (Bob) Carilli and eventually they had two daughters whom she taught to: cook the Italian classics; shop with coupons at Macy's and Lord & Taylor; drive a little too fast while belting out her favorite tunes; enjoy a day (or a week) at the beach; travel the small towns and backroads of the Amalfi Coast and finally, to be the best person you can be and to leave this world a little better than you found it by taking care of those in need. When she wasn't imparting these various life skills to her kids, she worked as an administrative assistant at Preferred Tool & Die or volunteering at both Lord Chamberlain Nursing and Rehab Center and St. Vincent's Hospital. The one skill she was not able to pass down to her daughters was her uncanny ability to beat the odds at the slot machines. She loved the excitement of the casinos and most often came home a few hundred dollars richer than when she left. Being the selfless person that she was, her family often benefited from her winnings. A loving wife and mother, she cherished the time she spent with family – everything from cooking and hosting big holiday feasts to babysitting the grandkids when they were young to hours spent cheering loudly at Nick's exciting soccer matches, Matt's basketball or baseball games and giving standing ovations at Michelle's dance recitals. Her enthusiasm for the Yankees, NY Giants and UCONN basketball was great but second to the joy she received watching her grandkids compete and perform. She is survived by her husband Bob, her daughters Theresa "Teri" Carilli and wife Serene Forte of Lexington, MA and Susan David and husband Adam of Ridgefield, CT. Grandchildren (whose photos she would share with whomever she started up a conversation with): Michelle, Matthew and Nicholas David. What defined her life was kindness – she was so thoughtful, generous and incredibly kind to everyone she met. A Mass of Christian Burial will take place on Saturday, March 10, 2018 at 10 a.m. directly in St. Mark Church, 500 Wigwam Lane, Stratford. Interment will follow in the Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Trumbull. There will be no calling hours. In order to honor her memory, in lieu of flowers, we ask for donations to the Lewy Body Dementia Association, 912 Killian Hill Road, S.W., Lilburn, GA 30047, or Ridgefield Operation for Animal Rescue (ROAR), 45 South Street, Ridgefield, CT 06877.