Obituary: Lucille Mary Amarante Celentano, 81, of Branford

Obituary courtesy of W. S. Clancy Memorial Funeral Home:

Lucille Mary Amarante Celentano, 81, of Branford, CT, passed away peacefully on May 12, 2023 at Yale New Haven Hospital, surrounded by her family after a long battle with cancer.

Lucille was born in New Haven on September 24, 1941 to Salvatore and Frances Biagiarelli Amarante, their second and last child. Lucille’s older brother Bobby tragically died from cancer when she was 10 years old.

Lucille graduated from Wilbur Cross High school in 1959, and a few years later married Michael John Celentano, her high school sweetheart. After experiencing the solitude of becoming an only child after her brother’s death, Lucille dreamed of having a house full of children. By 1969, she realized that dream by producing four children in five years: Mike, Kim, Jim and Dan. She never experienced solitude again.

As a longtime single mother, Lucille tirelessly supported her family with a variety of occupations, most notably, working for the New Haven Register as a supervisor for more than a decade. Lucille successfully owned a Curves for Women franchise in the 1990’s and enjoyed the benefits of becoming her own boss. She also enjoyed investing in real estate, and in recent years, volunteering at the Branford Community Soup Kitchen.

Lucille loved to travel and for decades kept a second home in Vermont. Her greatest pleasure came from socializing with the people she cherished most, especially her many beloved cousins and friends. Lucille’s greatest source of pride were her four grandchildren, to whom she was their biggest cheerleader and supporter. Her strength and fortitude in the face of life's challenges were an inspiring example to all of us. She will be remembered for her positive life outlook, sense of humor, and selfless, unconditional love for her family.

Lucille is survived by her four children, Michael Celentano (Felicity), Kimberly Celentano (Ilya Gorelik), James Celentano, and Daniel Celentano, and four grandchildren, Lauren Celentano, Michael Celentano, Natalie Gorelik and Dean Gorelik.

Her funeral will leave the W. S. Clancy Memorial Funeral Home, 244 North Main Street, Branford, Tuesday May 23rd, at 9:30 for a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 in St. John Bosco Parish at St. Mary Church, 731 Main Street, Branford. Burial will follow in St. Lawrence Cemetery. Visitation prior to funeral from 8:30-9:30 at the funeral home. For directions and online memorial see www.wsclancy.com