Calabrese, Bertha (Holmes)
Bertha (Holmes) Calabrese died March 7, 2023 at St Mary Home. Born February 4, 1934 in Fort Fairfield Maine, the daughter of Allan and Anne Holmes Bertha grew up in Manchester CT and graduated from Manchester High School, Class of 1953. Bertha's amazing Holmes family consisted of 13 siblings, 6 brothers and 7 sisters, she was the last remaining child of that generation and leaves behind a large contingent of nieces, nephews and cousins. After marrying Ted in 1957 they settled in West Hartford where she spent her life raising her three boys and growing her own extended family. Bertha was the ultimate sports Mom. With her boys playing multiple sports from season to season there was a constant flow of practice, games, travel and events to prepare for. She always had the uniforms ready and she never missed a single game. She was able to see the fruits of her labor as all three of her sons went on to play college sports and graduate as well. After her boys left the nest she was able to start her own career, she became the Head Telephone Operator at both the American School for the Deaf and the Connecticut Mutual Life Insurance Company. Bertha was a Parish Council president at St Thomas and worked as a Eucharistic Minister for the homebound and nursing home confined. Her faith was always at the center of her life and her service to St. Thomas was never ending including a part time job at the rectory after her retirement for over 10 years.
Bertha loved traveling, trips to Italy with a pilgrimage to the Vatican and to Ireland with a trip to her ancestral home with Ted, Mark & Libby were the highlights. She loved the beach and was a wonderful swimmer and would stand by the shore watching all the kids making sure they were safe. Trips to her childhood home in the state of Maine and to visit family were always fun, Sebago lake and Wells Beach were just a few of her favorite spots, snow birding in Florida with the Kennedy's was something she enjoyed doing as well. To say she loved the casinos is an understatement, she was an excellent slot player and always seemed to come out ahead. If she and Ted could not be found then they were probably on the way to New Jersey supposedly to see their granddaughter but actually that was just a stop on the way to Atlantic City. Trips to Vegas with their friends occurred on occasion and always seemed to end in a profit for her.
As a loving wife, mother and grandmother Bertha loved spending time with her family. Setting out the china for a big holiday meal of her stuffed shells and cutlets and waiting on everyone was just her way of doing things. She would always say before holiday dinner “does anyone have something special to say today “and we all just usually thank her for all she did. Going for Ice Cream at A.C. Peterson's or a hot dog at her new favorite place ‘The Summer Shack' was always something she loved to do. Gramma lived to spend time with her grandchildren. Brittany, Vincent, Nicholas, Ian, Ollie filled her thoughts to her last days. A card or present never failed to arrive for a birthday or holiday on time along with a special note attached. Gramma always ‘had a $5 to stay alive' for the grandkids and the house was always stocked with ‘Bugles and Dip'. She was a true family matriarch and recently added “Great Gramma” to her to her many titles with the addition of her first great grandchild Grace.
Gramma also wrote poetry and loved watching the soaps and Netflix with Ted and of course had to become a Red Sox fan as well. A special thank you to the staff at St. Mary Home for their wonderful care.
Bertha is survived by her beloved husband of 65 years Theodore (Ted) Calabrese, her children TJ Calabrese and his wife Annette of Southington CT, Mike Calabrese and his wife Stacey of Tariffville CT. Her granddaughter Brittany and husband Brian Campion of Leonardo NJ, grandsons Vincent and Nicholas of Southington, Ian and Oliver of Tariffiville and great granddaughter Grace. Bertha also leaves her good friends Ann Mullin, Mary Chappell, Anna, Ellen and Martin and her loving niece Anne Doremus.
Bertha was predeceased by her eldest son Mark G. Calabrese exactly seven years to the day of his passing on March 7, 2016, they are together now in God's hands. Bertha was also pre deceased by her mother-inlaw Jeny Calabrese and her great uncle Nino whom she lovingly cared for many years.
Bertha's Family will receive friends and family on Sunday March 12, 2023 from 5:00 – 8:00 pm at Molloy Funeral Home, 906 Farmington Ave. West Hartford CT. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, March 13 at 11:00 am, at St. Thomas the Apostle Church, 872 Farmington Ave., West Hartford, CT. Burial will be immediately following at Fairview Cemetery, 200 Whitman Ave., West Hartford. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to ST. Thomas the Apostle Church, 872 Farmington Ave West Hartford, CT 06119. Online expressions of sympathy may be made at www. molloyfuneralhome.com.