Ann Bell-Ricci

Ann Bell-Ricci, 84, cherished wife of Richard Ricci, passed away peacefully Saturday 9/4/2021 at her Clinton home with her family by her side. Born April 5, 1937 in New Haven, CT to Irish immigrants the late Anna (Connolly) and David Dinan. Ann grew up in Fair Haven, raised her family in Orange, before in later years, settling down in Clinton, CT. Caring for people was one of Ann’s lifelong passions, and her 30-year career in nursing at Yale New-Haven Hospital reflected this. Her caring bedside manner, compassion and quick wit brought comfort and smiles to countless patients. Ann and her husband “Ric” shared a love of boating and travel. Their boats, aptly christened, “Cheers” and “Cheers II” kicked-off endless summer adventures, navigating Long Island Sound to Sag Harbor, Block Island and Greenport. Winters were spent with friends on cruises to warmer climes; one cruise taking them through the locks of the Panama Canal to Colombia. At home, Ann took great pleasure in gardening, coaxing her morning glories and other flowers to bloom. Ann adored all animals and loved watching the birds and bunnies who came through her backyard. Ann was second generation Irish and was very proud of her heritage. Many Saint Patrick days were celebrated at the New Haven parade followed by singing and dancing at Bill’s Seafood in Westbrook, CT all the while wearing her signature four leaf clover pin. Besides her children, Ann deeply cherished and nurtured the friendships she made. As a friend, Ann was strong, funny, loyal and wise, showing up for both the good times, and the bad times. She had an uncanny ability to know just the right words to say to make it all better. In addition to her husband Richard Ricci, Ann is survived by her former husband Richard

Bell and his wife Roberta of Hancock, NH, her children and their spouses: Richard Bell and Jodi McNamara of Melrose, MA, Russell Bell and Laura of North Haven, CT, Karen (Bell) Kinnaly and Ed Kinnaly of New Castle, NH, Pam (Ricci) Roach and husband John of Cheshire, CT, cousins Mary Perrelli of New Haven, CT and Patricia Connolly of Hamden, CT. Other family includes niece Renee Coleman (Riccitelli) and husband Paul of Hamden, CT, and last and best her grandchildren, Russell and Miles Doucet, Natalie and Sean Roach. Ann was predeceased by her brother Donald Dinan, her sister Ellen (Dinan) DeLeonardo (Riccitelli), nephew David Riccitelli. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday, September 9th at 11:00 a.m. directly in St. Mary’s Church, 54 Grove St., Clinton, CT 06413. Burial will immediately follow in Saint Bernard’s Cemetery, Columbus Ave., New Haven. In lieu of flowers family asks donations be made in Ann’s name to the Simmons Center for Interstitial Lung Disease online at www.upmc.com or donations may be made to the Shoreline Soup Kitchens & Pantries, 222 McVeagh

Rd., Westbrook, CT 06498.