Obituary: Theresa M. Sattelberger, 87, of Branford

Information via The W.S. Clancy Memorial Funeral Home

In Clinton, CT March 26, 2016, Holy Saturday, the day before Easter, Theresa M. Sattelberger, widow of Edward P. Sattelberger, formerly of Branford. Loving mother of Diana Sattelberger (James S. Sligar) of Hartsdale, N.Y., Sandra (Michael) Kraus of Branford, Mark (Selina) Sattelberger of Branford, and Robert (Brenda) Sattelberger of Lyndonville, VT.

Also survived by her beloved grandchildren. Terry's family is forever grateful to her amazing primary caregiver, Irena Kubicka, of Bialystok, Poland, who lovingly cared for Terry since November 2008 as her dementia progressed, and to the wonderful Peregrine's Landing in Clinton, where Terry was very happy during the last months of her life.

Terry (Dziedziak Smith) Sattelberger was born Feb. 5, 1929 to the late John and Josephine (Lipnik) Dziedziak in Hackensack, N.J. Due to the Great Depression, Terry was raised in Ramsay, N.J. by John and Mary Smith. Following graduation from Ramsay High School, she worked as a bookkeeper in the Empire State Building; this started a life-long affection for New York City and its many cultural offerings.

Following her marriage to Ed Sattelberger on December 30, 1950 until his death on December 24, 2005, she primarily focused her loving attention on family, home, St. Elizabeth Church, Short Beach, and later St. Mary Church, Branford; her many friends, including from MB Electronics where Ed worked after they moved from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, and as a member of the New Haveners Club; and volunteer activities.

Terry loved taking care of her children and grandchildren, and of children in her professional childcare capacity, particularly Stein and Erica Helmrich.

Terry also loved-and taught her children and others to love-cooking, baking, decorating for every holiday, gardening, feeding the birds and her children's pets, walking, especially along Branford's beautiful shoreline, playing golf and bridge, and going to museums, plays, and concerts with friends, especially Erika Reen.

When Terry first moved to Short Beach, she was not comfortable around the water, but she hid her fears from her children and teamed with friend Rosemary Booth to arrange for swimming lessons on the beach; this enabled their and others' children to safely enjoy the Sound. Mon loved her many friends and often said she lost friends only because God had taken them to Heaven.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday at 11:00 at St. Mary Church in Branford, with burial at St. Agnes Cemetery in Branford. There will be no calling hours. The W.S. Clancy Memorial Funeral Home, 244 North Main St. Branford is in care of arrangements. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. Mary Church, 731 Main St., Branford, CT 06405, www.stmarybranford.org, or to a charity of one's choice, or please show love to a friend, a child, an animal, or a garden or other part of our beautiful world, in Terry's name.