Co-Owner of Monroe's Al's Deli Catherine L. DiBartolo, 74, Passed Away

MONROE, CT — Funeral services and a Mass of Christian burial for Catherine L. DiBartolo, 74, a longtime resident of Connecticut, will be held at 9 a.m. Monday, September 12, 2016 at St. Theresa Roman Catholic Church, 5301 Main Street, Trumbull, CT. Burial will be at Mountain Grove Cemetery, Easton, CT. The family will greet friends from 4 pm – 8 pm on Sunday, September, 11, 2016 at Cyril F. Mullins Funeral Home, 399 White Plains Road, Trumbull, CT.

Catherine passed away peacefully on Thursday, September 8, 2016 at the Hospital of Saint Raphael in New Haven, CT. She was born December 12, 1941 in Gaggi, Sicily the daughter of Maria Pidoto and Alfio Mannino. Catherine was united in marriage to Alfio S. DiBartolo on June 22, 1960 in a beautiful ceremony in Gaggi. He preceded her in death on April 8, 2012. They were married for 52 blissful years.

Shortly after their marriage, Catherine came to the United States to live, work, and start a family. She spoke little English when she arrived, but quickly adapted and thrived in her new country. She worked part time as seamstress and then full time as an electronic assembler at Norden Systems and Perkin Elmer. Later in life, she became co-owner of Al's Deli in Monroe, CT. She loved to showcase her creativity by making beautiful silk flower arrangements. Her most important work, however, was raising her four daughters to be loving, caring and educated women. They lived in Bridgeport, CT for many years on Dobson Street and later moved to Trumbull, CT.

Catherine's true passion was cooking, having family over for meals, and keeping a well decorated and beautiful home. She watched Italian cooking shows, read books, listened to opera, and experimented continually with new food recipes much to her guests delight. Catherine liked nothing better than cooking and serving meals while enjoying conversation at the kitchen table with her loved ones. It can't go without saying that her meatballs, eggplant parmesan, lasagna, seafood stew and cookies were second to none. When accompanied with her warm and welcoming style, these meals and gatherings were special occasions for all.

She is survived by and most proud of her loving and caring children and spouses; Annamarie (David) Haught, Glastonbury, CT; Irene (Patrick) McKenna, Milford, CT; Kathleen (John) Sowka, Trumbull, CT; Louisa (Jeffrey) Lombardi, Shelton, CT; Closest to her heart were 7 loving grandchildren: Alena, Calvin, Tristan, Reece, Lily, Jackson, and Patrick; her brothers and sisters (and their spouses) who remained close and dear to her for all her days: Anna (Frank), Nancy (Michael), Josephine (James), Rosario (Minette), Joseph (Catherine), and Eleonora and many nieces and nephews of whom she always cherished and spoke of fondly.