May 2024

Mary Kelly Brown, 61, of Cromwell, passed away peacefully on Sunday May 26th surrounded by her loving family.

Mary was born in Hartford on July 7th, 1962 to Alice Kelly & the late Thomas Kelly Jr. of Cromwell. Mary graduated from Mercy High School in 1980 & went on to become the first female volunteer firefighter & EMT for Portland Engine Co. #1. Mary continued her career as an EMT for Professional Ambulance & as a pharmacy tech. at Middlesex Hospital.

Mary was a devoted wife of 42 years to her high school sweetheart & soul mate Richard Brown. She was the proud mother of her two beautiful daughters, Caitlin Brown Charest, her husband Kevin, & their son Dylan of Portland, and Jordyn Brown Misseri & her husband Nicholas of Cromwell. Mary leaves behind her brother Daniel Kelly & his wife Donna of Cromwell and was predeceased by her brother James Kelly of Cromwell. Other surviving loved ones include an aunt, eight nieces and nephews, three great-nieces and nephews, as well as numerous cousins & friends.

If you knew Mary, you knew she was the sweetest, most empathetic person you could meet. Whatever she felt, she felt with her whole being. Mary was a passionate photographer & artist and an admirer of musical theater. She was also very proud of her Irish heritage.

The family would like to say a special thank you to the ER & Hospice staff at Middlesex Health for their compassionate care.

Friends may call at the Portland Memorial Funeral Home, 231 Main St., Portland on Saturday, June 8th from 9 until 10:30 a.m. followed by burial in the Swedish Cemetery, Portland.

John (Butch) J. Levay Jr. of Portland, CT and formerly of Rowayton, CT passed away peacefully on March 7th at the age of 78.

John was born on May 12th,1946, in Stamford, CT, to parents John J. Levay Sr. and Florence (Stevens) Levay.

John is predeceased by his father, John and his mother, Florence as well as his sister Edith Omicioli, and his brother-in-laws Charles Omicioli and Robert Santry. 

John is survived by his sister, Dorothy Santry of Grants Pass, OR and a number of nieces and nephews.

John was a member of the Rowayton Fire Department as well as the Portland Volunteer Fire Department for many years.  John was a parishoner of St. Mary’s Church in Portland.

John loved watching UCONN games and he was a true follower of the NASCAR racing team of Joey Logano.  John loved tag sales and was an avid collector of a variety of memorabilia.

Memorial services for John will be held on Saturday,  June 1st at 11 a.m. at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Portland.

Donations may be made in John’s name to the Portland Volunteer Fire Department. 

The Portland Memorial Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Peter Anthony Castelli, 77, of Portland, passed away May 20th, 2024 at Yale New Haven Hospital. 

Born in Hartford to the late George and Alicia (O’Brien) Castelli, Peter was a lifelong resident of Portland and deeply committed to his community. He was a 10-term member of the Portland Board of Assessment Appeals, a 17-year member of the Portland Town Committee and served as a Justice of the Peace.  In 2019 he was a recipient of the Portland Community Service and Citizenship Award. He was a devoted member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church and a 4th Degree member of the Knights of Columbus, Freestone Council 7.  

Following his graduation with a BA in Political Science from Queens College (CUNY), he was recruited by American Airlines where he worked as a Sales & Marketing Rep and Manager of Special Projects. He then formed his own travel business and later joined forces with the World Wrestling Federation (now WWE), as COO of a spin-off travel company. He worked in a variety of other consulting, management, and sales roles throughout his career, ultimately retiring from A&A Office Systems.

A gregarious, warm, and engaging person, Peter could effortlessly strike up conversations with anyone—and would inevitably have them laughing in seconds. He was a gifted storyteller, lifelong prankster, accomplished golfer, proud uncle, and set the standard for sartorial elegance. Above all, he was an incredibly thoughtful person who cared deeply for family and friends leaving all with wonderful memories they will cherish forever. 

Peter was preceded in death by his brother George Castelli and is survived by his beloved wife of 52 years Sandra (Giambone), brother Daniel and wife Olenka, sister-in-law Suzanne, brother-in-law LTC (Ret.) Alfred Giambone, nephew Christopher and wife Melissa with great-niece Maya, niece Kara Aiello and husband Mattthew with great-nephews Ian and Nathan, niece Kate, nephew Alexander Giambone and wife Soujanya with great-nieces Meena and Maya, niece Meredith Harris and husband James with great-nieces Madison, Mackenzie, Rylee, and nephew Peter Giambone and wife Stephanie with great-niece Amelia.

Friends and family may call at the Portland Memorial Funeral Home, 231 Main St., Portland on Tuesday, May 28th from 5 to 7 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, May 29th at St. Mary’s Church, Portland with burial in St. Mary’s Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Peter’s memory to support Hematology Research at Yale New Haven Hospital. Donors may visit https://givetoynhh.org/, select Donate Now, Select Other, type in Hematology Research, and note that it is in Peter’s memory.  Alternatively, donations may be mailed to Yale New Haven Hospital, Office of Development, PO Box 1849, New Haven, CT 06508-1849. Those who write checks should note in the memorandum line that it is in memory of Peter and for Hematology Research.

Albert W. Dadario Sr, 91, of Haddam Neck, former resident of Middletown, passed away at his home on May 18th, 2024. Born February 6th, 1933 in Waterbury CT, he was the only son of the late Henry and Anita (Weckler) Dadario.

He spent most of his youth working with his father at Middlesex Plumbing out of Cromwell, CT. Here he would learn the ins and outs of how to be an entrepreneur. Al wore many hats in his lifetime and was a successful business and property owner. He also proudly served in the United States Army.

Albert is survived by his two sons Albert W Dadario Jr (Linda), Michael Dadario (Mary Kaye). His grandchildren Emily Ossa (Michael), Kate-Lyn Sheehan (Thomas), and Antonio Dadario; great grandson Owen Ossa and soon to arrive great granddaughter (Sheehan). He leaves behind his faithful canine companion Kimba. 

Graveside service will be held on Wednesday, May 29that 11 a.m. at Rose Hill Cemetery in Rocky Hill.

The Portland Memorial Funeral Home, 231 Main St., Portland, is in charge of arrangements.

Ned Ray Cassady passed away after a brief illness on May 14th. He was 84. He is survived by his wife, Ellen, daughter Laura Cassady, granddaughter Kathryn Cassady and step-daughter Sandie Austin. He retired from the Army and the Airforce. After his military career he started his own successful business AAA Home Repair.

Services will be at Faith Lutheran Church, 300 Washington Street, Middletown at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, May 22nd.  Graveside services will be family members only. Please join us for refreshments at the Elks Lodge, 44 Maynard Street, Middletown after the service. 

In lieu of flowers please make a donation to the Humane Society.

The Portland Memorial Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Ricky J Mosca, 66, from Marlborough, CT, passed away very unexpectedly on May 8th, 2024. He was born on December 31st, 1957, in Middletown, CT. Ricky was a Journeyman for several years before studying and training as an HVAC Specialist. Recently semi-retired, Ricky was enjoying a part-time position with the Town of Glastonbury.

His most favorite hobby was fishing.

Ricky is survived by his beloved sister, Beverly M Jervis from Trumbull, CT. He was preceded in death by his father, John S Mosca, and mother, Lucille R Bartolotta.

Ricky will be remembered for his dedication to his work and his love for outdoor activities. He will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him.

Calling hours will be held at the Portland Memorial Funeral Home, 231 Main Street, Portland on Saturday, May 25th, from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM.

Barbara E. Ruitto, 85, of Portland passed peacefully at her home with her husband by her side on May 3rd.  Born August 9th,1938 in Southbridge, MA, she was the daughter of the late Clifford and Agnes Erickson. Barbara was a lifelong resident of Connecticut and was married to Dominic Ruitto for 23 years. They spent the last 20 years traveling throughout the United States in their motorhome, spending each winter in Florida by the ocean. Barbara enjoyed a variety of hobbies including sewing, ceramics, gardening, working on puzzles, and loved watching the UCONN Women’s basketball. She was a great cook who could throw together a dinner for 10 people with little to no notice. Barbara retired from CMI in Manchester, CT. She was preceded in death by her son Jimmy Powell. Barbara is survived by her husband Dominic Ruitto and two daughters and their husbands, Vivian & Ray Webber, Joanne & Allen Coan, two granddaughters, Nicole and Courtney Webber. She is also survived by four sisters and one brother, Evelyn Malinowski, Karen Malinowski, Gloria Czerkie, Debbie Daigle, and Carl Erickson. Services are private for immediate family only. The Portland Memorial Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Sara W. Zubeckis, 83, of East Berlin was called home to the loving arms of our Lord on May 6th, 2024. She was the cherished wife of the late John Zubeckis, her high school sweetheart and partner in life for 54 beautiful years.
 

Born in New Haven, CT, Sara was the beloved daughter of Leroy and Dorothy Worthington of Wallingford. From her earliest days, Sara’s dream was to become a nurse. This compassionate calling was nurtured during her teenage years while working at Gaylord Hospital.

After graduating from Lyman Hall High School in Wallingford, Sara's journey led her to the Greenwich School of Nursing. From there, she embarked on a distinguished career in healthcare that began at the Meriden-Wallingford Hospital. After relocating to Cromwell, she served as an ICU nurse at Middlesex Hospital, dedicating herself to the well-being of others. Her passion for nursing culminated in her role as a nursing supervisor and director of education at Cromwell Crest, where her leadership and compassion touched countless lives. Following her retirement from nursing, Sara enjoyed several years working as a Director for Mary Kay Cosmetics.
 

Beyond her professional endeavors, Sara's heart belonged to her family. Her late husband, children, and four grandchildren were the center of her universe. Together, they shared joyous moments, creating memories that will be treasured for generations to come.
 

In her leisure time, Sara found solace in simple pleasures such as gardening, rug hooking, and solving crossword puzzles. In her earlier years, she delighted in evenings filled with laughter, playing cards and dominoes, and dancing with her beloved John and their cherished friends. Sara also loved baking—no family dinner was ever complete without Sara's signature, freshly made potato rolls, buttery soft and made with love.
 

A devoted member of Bethany Covenant Church, Sara found comfort and community in her faith. She leaves behind a legacy of love, kindness, and unwavering devotion.
 

Sara is survived by her loving children, Sandra (Zubeckis) Coman of Portland, John Zubeckis, and his wife Stephanie Lango of Wallingford, as well as her adoring grandchildren, Thomas Coman and his wife Emily, Nicholas Coman, Zachary Zubeckis, and Julia Zubeckis. She is also remembered fondly by her brother Leroy Worthington and his wife Patricia, sister Jane Saulenas and her husband Jack, along with numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
 

In addition to her husband, Sara was preceded in death by her son-in-law John K. Coman, as well as her parents Leroy and Dorothy Worthington.
 

The family wishes to extend heartfelt gratitude to the compassionate staff at the Village of South Farms in Middletown and the dedicated nurses at Hartford Hospital inpatient hospice for their exceptional care of Sara.
 

Friends and loved ones are invited to pay their respects during calling hours on Thursday, May 16th, from 5-7 PM at Portland Memorial Funeral Home, 231 Main St., Portland. A celebration of Sara's life will be held on Friday, May 17th at 11 AM at Bethany Covenant Church in Berlin. Burial will be at the convenience of the family.   
 

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Bethany Covenant Church, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, or a charity of the donor's choice in Sara's honor.
 

Though Sara may no longer be with us in body, her spirit will forever shine bright in the hearts of all who were blessed to know and love her. She will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered.