Obituary: Clelia D’Attelo Tenerowicz, 90; Formerly Of Wallingford

WALLINGFORD, CT — (From Wallingford Funeral Home): Clelia D’Attelo Tenerowicz, 90, of Ludlow, MA, formerly of Naples, FL, and Wallingford, CT, died January 9, 2024. She was the beloved wife of the late Peter A. Tenerowicz.

Clelia (“Cle”) was born in Southport, CT, April 15, 1933, a daughter of the late James V. and Angelina (Gilberti) D’Attelo. Cle is preceded in death by her siblings, Alba Allard, Lidizo Renzulli, Edmund D’Attelo, Celia Gardner, Mary Poruban, and Francis Agonis.

Cle graduated from Southern Connecticut State University with both a baccalaureate and master’s degree in science with a major in education. She went on to achieve her sixth-year certificate in education from Southern.

Cle met and married her husband, Peter, while in college and they enjoyed over 61 years of marriage. Cle began her teaching career in Fairfield, CT in 1956. She taught at the elementary level; working to develop and enhance curriculum while also serving as a master teacher for education interns.

In 1979, Cle transitioned to an administrative role, serving as a principal at Dag Hammarskjold, Stevens and Cook Hill Schools. In 1987, Cle assumed the position as Assistant Superintendent of Schools for curriculum in the Wallingford School system. Cle dedicated the next 6 years to improvements and implementation of curriculum.

Upon her retirement in 1993, Board of Education members noted that Cle always demonstrated tireless dedication, a commitment to the needs of students, and a tremendous amount of respect for the input and ideas of teachers.

After retirement, Pete and Cle moved to Naples, FL. where they continued service to others in need. They supported and worked for multiple charitable organizations including the AIDS Foundation, AmFar, the National AIDS Memorial and the University of Miami Transplant Services.

Cle also served as a board member of the Joe Logston Foundation, providing education and resources to those living with HIV. Cle and Pete returned to the north in 2015 to be close to family prior to Pete’s death. After Pete passed, Cle continued her support of others, serving as a Eucharistic Minister at St. Elizabeth’s Church in Ludlow, providing reading assistance to school children in the community and serving as a hospice volunteer.

Cle is preceded in death by her son, Peter Edward Tenerowicz. She is survived by her daughter, Lynn Tenerowicz and her fiancé, Lee Emerson; her granddaughters, Jennifer Basil Snow and her husband Philip Snow, and Courtney Basil and her fiancé, Joseph Gurchak; her great-granddaughters, Annabelle and Adeline, and many nieces and nephews.

Her family will receive relatives and friends in The Wallingford Funeral Home, 809 N. Main St. Ext., Saturday, Feb. 3rd from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. A funeral service will be held in the funeral home at 11 a.m. Interment will follow in St. John Cemetery in Wallingford. Gifts in her memory may be sent to Baystate Health Foundation, https://www.baystatehealth.org/giving.

For more information and to leave online condolences, visit Wallingford Funeral Home here.