Obituary:Mrs. Marilyn A. (Santopietro) Gerace, 75, of Waterbury

Obituary courtesy of Maiorano Funeral Home

MARILYN'S OBITUARY

Loving Wife, Mother, Nonni, and Friend

Mrs. Marilyn A. (Santopietro) Gerace, age 75, of Waterbury and Kennebunkport, Maine, passed away on the day of her birth, Sunday, December 13, 2020 at Saint Mary’s Hospital. She was the loving wife of Robert Gerace.

Marilyn was born on December 13, 1945 in Waterbury, daughter of the late Ralph and Lillian (Walsh) Santopietro. She was a graduate of Sacred Heart High School, held a Bachelor’s Degree in English and Latin from Our Lady of Elms College and obtained her Master’s Degree in Reading from Southern CT State University. She taught in the Waterbury School System for over 20 years. She began her career at Sacred Heart High School where she taught English and Latin. After having children, Marilyn returned to her profession working part-time at Waterbury Adult Education. She went on to teach at Saint Mary’s School and then Wilby High School where she taught English and Latin and served as Department Chair until her retirement. She was a member of the Waterbury Teacher’s Association, CEA/NEA retired, Farmingbury Woman’s Golf Association, and the Goose Rocks Beach Association. A proud cancer survivor, Marilyn was a member and a supporter of the Susan G. Komen Foundation.

She was a lifelong NY Yankee fan, followed the UCONN Women’s Basketball team and enjoyed playing “Words with Friends” and “Slotomania” online. She was always an avid reader, and despite her progressive loss of sight, her love for the written word continued with the help and guidance of the CT Bureau of Education and Services for the Blind. Marilyn loved Goose Rocks Beach, her sunsets, playing golf, and her daily walks; all of these activities made even better when enjoying them with her beloved husband, children, and grandchildren. Marilyn was affectionately named “The Cookie Queen” by family and friends as she baked dozens and dozens of Christmas cookies which she made and shared with everyone; some still in the freezer awaiting this year’s holiday. The Easter season brought pizzagaina and Easter bread to everyone’s table.

In addition to Bob, her devoted husband of 51 years, Marilyn is survived by her sons Mark J. Gerace and his wife Kara of Newtown and James R. Gerace of Middlebury; her daughter Janet L. Sweetland and her husband Michael of Prospect; her five cherished grandchildren Julia Gerace, Isabella Gerace, Marcus Gerace, Clara Sweetland and Tessa Sweetland and her brothers Thomas R. Santopietro and his companion Joyce Gallon of Waterbury and Ralph A. Santopietro, Jr. and his wife Judith of Myrtle Beach, SC. She also leaves several nieces, nephews and cousins including “Auntie” Dianne Stanco, and Michael J. Gerace as well as her best friends Jackie D’Amico Greene and Denise Baker Mezzanotte.

Marilyn’s family would like to thank the ICU staff at Saint Mary’s Hospital for their compassionate care shown to Marilyn with a very special thanks to Laurie Kenny, her guardian angel, who watched over her and held her hand until the end.

Her funeral will be held on Friday, December 18, 2020 at 9:00am from Maiorano Funeral Home, 95 Willow St., to Our Lady of Loreto Church for a Mass at 11:00am. Burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery. Walk-thru calling hours will be held at the funeral home on Friday morning from 9:00-10:30am. Everyone attending will be required to wear face masks and social distancing guidelines will be strictly followed.

Memorial contributions in Marilyn’s name may be made to: Waterbury UNICO Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 933, Waterbury, CT 06721-0933 or to State of CT, Department of Rehabilitation Services, Bureau of Education and Services for the Blind,184 Windsor Ave., Windsor, CT 06095. For more information, to sign the virtual guest book, or to leave online condolences for the family, please visit www.maioranofuneralhome.com.