Canton Obituary: Marion Rotondo, 86

Marion Theresa (Mikolajcik) Rotondo, 86, of Harwinton, beloved wife of Severino "Tito" Rotondo, passed away Tuesday, May 2, 2017.

Marion was born August 27, 1930 in Unionville, daughter of the late John and Mary Mikolajcik. Marion grew up in Burlington next to St. Patrick's Church where she was a member for many years. After graduating from Canton High School, Marion went to work for the Connecticut Motor Vehicle Department.

She was a long-term resident of Avon prior to moving to Harwinton in 1978. Marion's love for music was a constant in her life; she learned to play the accordion at nine years old, taking her first lessons from her future brother-in-law, Alfred Rotondo. She went on to serve as the Majorette for the Canton High School band and passed along her love for music to her grandchildren by keeping them dancing in the living room to polkas and Conway Twitty.

Marion was always the most stylish to enter a room, she always said "always look your best when you leave your house because you never know who you're going to meet".

Marion and Tito celebrated an inspiring 64 years of marriage. She cherished a Valentine's Day card she received from her husband when they were nine years old. Marion gave all of her love to family; she taught herself to cook Italian dishes for her in-laws (but always incorporated Pierogies), made Sunday Mass and dinners mandatory for her four children and cherished time spent with her children and grandchildren at her summer home in Nantucket..

Marion's strength was unparalleled; she never let her fight define her and inspired all those around her to find the beauty and joy in every day.

Marion is survived by her husband Tito; their four children, Gail and her husband Mark Gabriel, Richard and his wife Mary Ellen Rotondo, Carol and her husband Frank Byus, and John and his wife Hee Sun Rotondo; her ten grandchildren, Alexandra and Patrick Doherty, Tyler Gabriel, Jessica Byus and Jake Konaxis, Samuel Byus, Chase Gabriel, Grace Rotondo, John Rotondo and Christian Rotondo; her sister Frances Case, and many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her grandson Peter Rotondo and her brother George Mikolajcik..

Marion's family will receive friends on Sunday, May 7, from 4-7 PM at the Carmon Funeral Home & Family Center, 301 Country Club Road, Avon. Family and Friends may gather at Carmon's at 9:15 AM, Monday, May 8, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00AM at Church of Saint Ann, 289 Arch Road, Avon. Burial will be in Saint Ann's Cemetery, Avon.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Prince Thomas of Savoy Ladies' Auxiliary, 32 Old Farms Road, Avon, CT 06001 or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105.

The family of Marion Rotondo would like to thank the caring staff at the Conklin Building of Hartford Hospital and Avon Health Center