Angeline Cook
Groton — Angeline “Angie” (Cataldi) Cook, 92, a lifelong resident of Groton, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by her family on Sunday, June 26, 2016.
Angie was married to her husband, Winford “Ray” Cook for 52 years. He predeceased her on March 4, 2004.
Angie was born in Groton to the late Mary (DeLia) and Frank P. Cataldi. After her natural mother’s death, she was raised by her dad and stepmother, Loretta (Quintiliani) Cataldi, who she regarded as her loving mother. Angie attended Colonel Ledyard School and graduated in 1942 from Robert E. Fitch High School. She completed the business program at Fitch and, upon graduation, worked for the Louis Levine Insurance Agency in New London. Throughout the years, she was also employed by the Smith Insurance and Parks Insurance agencies.
Angie met her future husband, Ray, while attending dances at the Ser-Host Club at the YMCA in New London. After a six-month courtship, they were united in marriage at Sacred Heart Church on April 28, 1951.
Angie and Ray were the proud parents of two daughters, Ann-Marie Hillyer of Decatur, Ill., and Elizabeth Porter of Mystic. Angie found joy in life by devoting herself to her family. She supported her husband throughout his military career and was active in her daughters’ education. A strong proponent of education, Angie was instrumental in establishing the school library at Sacred Heart School. In addition to being a classroom volunteer, she was a Girl Scout leader for the “Farthest North Girl Scout Council” and a member of the Rosary Society. Angie’s artistic talents were expressed through the lavish cake creations she designed for many local brides. Once her daughters were grown, she enjoyed participating in her grandchildren’s adventures along with doing many crafts, exercising, cooking, baking and traveling. In 2004, Angie fulfilled a lifelong dream of traveling to Rome with her family. She strived to preserve the Old World Italian traditions and customs and to pass these treasured gifts on to the next generation.
Angie is survived by her daughters, Ann-Marie and Elizabeth along with their spouses, David Hillyer and Patrick Porter. She has three devoted grandchildren, Colleen Hillyer and James and Victoria Porter; great-grandson, Dante’ Porter and great-granddaughters, Isabelle and Gabrielle Foote. Angie also is survived by her brother, Thomas Cataldi and his wife, Sandra, of Groton, along with a host of nieces and nephews.
In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her brothers and sisters-in law, Domenic and Margaret Cataldi, Gennaro and Alice Cataldi, Anthony and Donna Cataldi; sister, Mary Cataldi and daughter, Karen Ann Cook, who died in infancy.
Her family will receive relatives and friends from 4 to 7 p.m. today, June 29, 2016 at Byles-Groton Memorial Home, 310 Thames St., Groton. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, June 30, at Sacred Heart Church in Groton. Interment will follow at the Colonel Ledyard Cemetery in Groton.
Donations in her memory may be made to Catholic Bishop of Northern Alaska, 1312 Peger Road, Fairbanks, AK 99709. This “farthest north mission” has been supported by Angie since she and Ray were stationed in Alaska in 1967. Donations may also be made to the Center for Hospice Care Southeast Connecticut, 227 Dunham St., Norwich, CT 06360.
Angie’s family would like to express heartfelt gratitude to the angels from hospice, Maria, Sandey, Sharon and Sabrina; as well as to Dr. Vanessa Johnson and Shay Groves of Eastern Connecticut Hematology and Oncology, for their exceptional care and loving support during our mother’s journey.
Please visit www.byles.com to sign the online register or to share a memory.