Obituary: Michelina "Lee" Colabello, 85, of Middlebury

Michelina A. "Lee" (Famiglietti) Colabello, 85, of Middlebury, died after a brief illness at her home on Wednesday, February 29, 2012, surrounded by her family. She was the wife of Joseph R. Colabello.

Colabello was born in Waterbury on March 12, 1926 second daughter of the late Giuseppe and Immacolata (Greco) Famiglietti. She attended Watertown High School and during World War II, worked in the defense industry at Wheeler Wire.

Colabello married Joseph Colabello in 1964 and they settled in Middlebury. For many decades, she was a friendly and familiar face as a cashier at the Pik-Kwik grocery store in Watertown. Famous in her family for her eggplant parmigiana and her pignoli cookies, she was an avid cook and baker. She was a communicant of in Middlebury.

Besides her husband Joseph of 48 years, she is survived by her sister, Rose Colasanto of Chevy Chase, M.D., several nieces and nephews, and many grandnieces and nephews to whom she was devoted. She was predeceased by her brother James Famiglietti and her sister Connie Leo.

Calling Hours: 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, March 4, at Chase Parkway Memorial/The Albini Family Funeral Home, 430 Chase Parkway, Waterbury.

Funeral: 9 a.m. Monday, March 5 at Chase Parkway Memorial/The Albini Family Funeral Home.

Mass: Following the funeral service, the 10 a.m. mass will take place at .

Burial: Following mass at Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Watertown.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to: Harold Leever Regional Cancer Center, 1075 Chase Parkway, Waterbury, CT 06708.