Obituary: Kay S. Melillo, 74, of Branford

Kay S. Melillo of Branford, died Saturday May 28, 2016 at Connecticut Hospice. She was the beloved wife of Carmen T. Melillo for 49 years.

Kay was born in Winchester, MA, October 28, 1941, daughter of the late Robert F. and Margaret Monteith Stoffregen. She was a sister of the late Robert L. Stoffregen, Nan S. Johns and Richard F. Stoffregen.

Kay was a graduate of Pennsylvania State University in 1964 with a BS in Recreation Education and earned her MS in Elementary Education from SCSU in 1976. She came to Branford in 1965 to work as a director with the Branford Recreation Department and formed many special friendships during that time that would last her lifetime.

Kay was a teacher and longtime director of the Mandana Armstrong Nursery School at the First Congregational Church of Branford from 1976 until her retirement in 1997. She was a member of the First Congregational Church and enjoyed participating in the Bell Choir. She also took great pleasure in the many friendships that formed from her years with the Shoreline Quilters Guild, the Willoughby Wallace Library Quilting Group and the Branford Senior Center Knitting Group.

Kay was a Brownie Leader and Consultant with the Girl Scouts of America and a member and swimming instructor at the Owenego Beach and Tennis Club in Branford. She was a devoted fan of UConn Huskies Basketball and the Penn State Nittany Lions. One of her greatest joys was watching and supporting the various sporting and musical activities of her beloved grandchildren.

Besides her husband, she is survived by her daughters, Sara E. Melillo (Michael A. Dennis) of Madison and Jane M. Malone (Steven K. Malone) of North Haven, as well as her step-son Mark Hayes (Ann Hayes) of Torrington; and her grandchildren, James S. May of Branford, and Erin M. and Daniel P. Malone of North Haven.

Family and friends are invited to a Memorial Service Saturday June 4, at 10:00 am in the First Congregational Church of Branford. Burial will follow at St. Agnes Cemetery. THERE ARE NO CALLING HOURS.

Memorial donations may be made to the Connecticut Hospice, 100 Double Beach Road, Branford, CT 06405.