Alvera Marino
Waterford — Alvera Settipane “Vera” Marino, 94, of Waterford, passed away Sunday, Oct. 2, 2022, after a brief illness. Vera was born Nov. 15, 1927, in Middletown, the daughter of Joseph and Mary (Secuso) Settipane. It was in Middletown where she met her childhood sweetheart and love of her life, Francesco Salvatore Marino. They were married Valentine’s Day 1953, and were inseparable for 63 years until his passing in 2016.
Vera began work as a telephone operator with Southern New England Telephone in Middletown. Efficient and personable, she was quickly promoted to the business office where many Middletown residents would work only with her. After her marriage, she moved to Trenton, N.J., and was promoted to management in New Jersey Bell’s Trenton office.
Vera retired upon having children and turned her boundless energy and enthusiasm to homemaking. Her meals and baking skills were legendary. Thanksgiving for the extended family consisted of so many dishes that the family joked that at least one plate always had to be passed around the table so that they all would fit. Each Christmas, she would make a vast array of delicious cookies and pack tins for friends and family.
Vera was also very involved in her children’s activities including sewing costumes for dance recitals and school plays. She was the enthusiastic Girl Scout troop leader for her daughters. Their activities ranged from hiking and camping, to trips to Radio City Music Hall and The Bronx Zoo. She was skilled in fire making and preparing food outdoors, including hay hole cooking and baking using a reflector oven. An experienced hiker, she was proud to have climbed Mount Washington, the highest peak on the Eastern Seaboard. Vera also served as assistant registrar of voters in Waterford for many years. She was a friendly, familiar face on election day.
Vera is survived by her four children: Karen Lipinski of Lake Forest, Ill., and her husband David, Joan Marino of Wallingford and her boyfriend Michael Simone, Ellen Bellucci of Niantic, and her husband Bruce and Robert Marino of Mendham, N.J., and his wife Kathleen (Gagnon); as well as eight grandchildren: Ashley Lipinski and her fiancé Andrew Sackett, Eric Lipinski and his wife Lauren (Schimmels), Jacqueline Rodriguez and her husband Justin, Christopher Hauser and his wife Elmira (Fifo), Scott Hauser, Todd Bellucci and his wife Brittney (Feeney), Matthew Marino and Alexandra Marino; three great-grandchildren, Evan Rodriguez, Elise Rodriguez and Lukas Hauser; and her brother-inlaw Joseph Marino and his wife Diana of Old Saybrook. She was predeceased by her siblings: Carmelina O’Brien, Guy Settipane, Joseph Settipane, MaryJane Marquis and Jeanette Laveglia.
Family and friends will be received from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 6, at the Thomas L. Neilan & Sons Funeral Home, 48 Grand St., Niantic. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m., Friday, Oct. 7, at St. Agnes Church located at 22 Haigh Ave., Niantic. Interment will follow in St. Sebastian Cemetery, Middletown.
Her enthusiasm, ready laughter and the ability to make everyone with whom she spoke feel valued and loved will be deeply missed by all who knew her. Mrs. Marino’s family invites you to offer condolences, share memories and view Vera’s online video tribute at www. neilanfuneralhome.com.