Rocky Hill Obituary: Aileen Colello, 62

Aileen (Laudano) Colello, 62, of Rocky Hill passed away at the Kaplan Family Hospice House in Danvers, MA, on November 3, 2016, after a long and courageous battle with breast cancer.

She was the beloved wife of Attorney John J. Colello and adored mother of Lauren and Joseph, the loves of her life. All three remained unflinchingly steadfast by Aileen’s side throughout her long illness – causing more than one oncologist to marvel at their tireless advocacy and devotion.

Born in New Haven on November 11, 1953, she was the daughter of Dr. Andrew J. Laudano and Dorothy (McKiernan) Laudano of Hamden. She graduated from Sacred Heart Academy in 1971 and earned a B.S. in math from St. Joseph College in 1975. For many years, Aileen worked side by side with John as a paralegal, an integral and invaluable part of his real estate law practice. She had previously worked at Connecticut Bank and Trust, Equity Bank, and Nutmeg State Financial Credit Union.

She will be remembered for her deep love of family, her kindness, her warm and loving nature, her infectious laugh, and her record-breaking Facebook liking. She was the family “fixer” who loved Motown music, the beach, gardening, Dancing with the Stars, HGTV, and decorating her house for the holidays. She told the best stories and made everyone around her feel comfortable. In the kitchen, she was famous for her mac and cheese, and at Christmastime, no one could resist her sauce and meatballs.

In addition to her husband John and her parents, she is survived by her son Joseph Colello of Rocky Hill; daughter, Dr. Lauren Colello Hoogewerff and her husband David of Cambridge, MA; sister Mary Ann Laudano of Somers, NY; brothers Andrew Laudano and his wife Maura of Swampscott, MA, and Peter Laudano and his wife Myriam of Redding; sister-in-law Kathy Colello and her fiancé Mark Nixon of West Hartford; and four beautiful nieces – Kayla Donahue, Marielle Donahue, Emma Laudano and Julie Laudano.

The family is especially grateful to the doctors, nurses and staff at Hartford Hospital, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and the Kaplan House for the expert loving care they gave Aileen.

Family and friends may call on Friday, November 11, from 5-8 p.m. at the Rose Hill Funeral Home, 580 Elm Street in Rocky Hill. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, November 12, at 10:30 a.m., at St. James Church, 767 Elm Street, Rocky Hill. Burial will follow in Rose Hill Memorial Park. Family and friends are invited to wear something pink, Aileen’s favorite color and the symbol of breast cancer awareness, to the funeral in her memory.

Memorial contributions in Aileen’s name may be made to the Triple Negative Breast Cancer Foundation, P.O. Box 204, Norwood, NJ 07648.