Obituary: Theresa Amendola, 80, of Southbury

Theresa Amendola, 80, died on Friday, Jan. 24, at Waterbury Hospital. She was born in New Haven on Dec. 3, 1933, to the late Luigi and Matilda (Masi) Amendola.

In April 1942, she came to live at the Southbury Training School. Amendola was a cheerful woman with a sharp wit and sense of humor. She had a love of old music and entertainers. She had a genuine concern and compassion for people and their families, and would ask staff how members of their families were doing.

Amendola loved to reminisce about old friends, and had a great memory. She also loved to keep active, and over the years was involved in several day programs, and had attended the Easter Seals programs in Waterbury for many years.

After she retired from paid work with Easter Seals, she wanted to continue with their program for older adults. Amendola’s choice to continue attending Easter Seals even after retirement speaks highly of the Easter Seals staff and programs.

Her family would like to thank the residential and medical staff at Southbury Training School and the staff at Easter Seals in Waterbury for their loving and compassionate care. She will be missed by her family and the many friends and staff persons who have had the pleasure to know her.

In addition to her parents, Amendola was predeceased by her sister Mary Thayer and her brother Gregory. Before Greg’s passing, Amendola had a great relationship with him and always looked forward to his visits and phone calls.

She is survived by her brother Salvatore and his wife Hazel Amendola of Lakewood, Calif., her sister Louise and husband Richard Sage of Amston, Conn., her brother-in-law Willie Thayer of West Haven, Conn. and her six nephews: Gregory’s sons Greg, Louis, Mark, and Ronald and Salvatore’s sons Greg and Louis Amendola, and their wives, who all reside in California. 

Arrangements are through Carpino Funeral Home, 750 Main St. South, Southbury. A mass of Christian burial will take place at Sacred Heart Church, 910 Main St. South, Southbury at 11 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 27, at . 

Interment service will be at 10 a.m. Friday, Feb. 28, at St. Lawrence Cemetery in West Haven. Donations in Theresa’s memory may be made to the STS Home and School Association, P.O. Box 872, Southbury.