Maria (Garofalo) Milardo

It is with heavy hearts that the family of Maria (Garofalo) Milardo, 82, of Middletown, announce her passing, surrounded by her adoring family, on Wednesday February 23, 2022. Born in Melilli, Sicily, Italy, on January 7, 1940, Maria was the daughter of the late Salvatore Garofalo and Concetta (Morello) Garofalo.

Maria was a resident of Middletown, CT. most of her life after immigrating to America from Sicily with her family as a young teen. Before retiring, she was employed as a cafeteria aide at Middletown High School and worked with several local catering businesses. She was a member of St. Sebastian’s Church. Maria devoted her life to caring for her family and truly loved her longtime friends and cousins. She was first and foremost a dedicated mother and grandmother. Maria’s passion was her Italian cooking and always looked forward to making Sunday meals, especially for her grandchildren, who affectionately knew her as their “Nonna”, as they were the joy of her life. Maria was full of love and had a way of making people laugh with her snarky humor.

Maria is survived by her four loving children, Salvatore Milardo of Middletown, Frank Milardo and his wife Elenita, of Meriden, Enrico Milardo and his wife Nicole of Middletown and Angela (Milardo) Held and her husband Timothy, of Middletown. Maria also leaves behind her four beloved grandchildren, Michael and Alissa Held, and Talia and Kailee Milardo,

Maria is survived by her sister Anna Calvo of Middletown, brother Sebastian Garofalo of Cromwell, and sister-in-law, Maria Garofalo, of Middletown, as well as many nieces and nephews whom she loved dearly and most notably her loving predeceased niece, Mary Ann Calvo of Middletown.

Maria is predeceased by her loving siblings, Rose (Garofalo) Misenti of Florida, Sebastiana Garofalo of Middletown , Joseph Garofalo of Middletown, and Vincenza (Garofalo) Cannata of Sicily.

A mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday, March 3rd, at St. Sebastian’s Church, Middletown, where calling hours will be held in the church from 9:30 AM, until Mass begins at 11 AM. Burial will be at St. Sebastian Cemetery, Middlefield.

The family would like to extend their sincere gratitude and appreciation to Maria’s second family, the caring and loving staff of the Alzheimer’s/ Dementia Unit at Water’s Edge, Health & Rehabilitation, Middletown.

Due to the week of Ash Wednesday, the church will not be accepting flowers; therefore the family is asking that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Connecticut Alzheimer’s Association. https://www. alz.org/ct.