Obituary for Grace B. Canarie
Grace B. Canarie died on October 23rd at her home in West Hartford, CT.
Mrs. Canarie, born in Hartford on October 22, 1923, was the daughter of the late Frank and Delia Bellizzi of San Basile, Italy. The family resided in the Parkville section of Hartford. After graduation from Hartford High, she began her career as a secretary in a local manufacturing plant before becoming administrative secretary to the Director of St. Francis Hospital.
She married James Canarie in 1955 and lived in Burlington, VT, South Hadley and Springfield, MA, raising 4 children, before returning to the Hartford area.
In Springfield, MA, where the family lived for twenty-five years, she was a secretary for the Chancellor of the Diocese. Upon her return to Hartford, she was executive assistant to three successive archbishops in the Archdiocese of Hartford. She retired at age 80, and then continued part-time and volunteer work until she was 90.
She was a member of St. Brigid Parish, West Hartford, and of the St. Brigid Ladies Guild, the LaSalette Mission Guild and the Catholic Women of Connecticut. For several years, she volunteered weekly at CRIS Radio, narrating programming for persons with impaired vision. In 1995, she received the Pro Ecclesia et Pontice medal from Pope John Paul II. Grace was an active community member and an avid reader. She was a beloved friend to many, but most of all, she delighted in the company of her family.
Grace Canarie is survived by her children Attorney David Canarie and his wife Pamela Koonz Canarie of South Portland, ME, her daughter Kathleen Canarie and her husband Alfred Schaeffer of Gray, Maine, her son Dr. Michael Canarie and his wife Dr. Lisa Visscher of West Hartford, CT and by her daughter Mary Sprout of Tolland, CT. She is also survived by grandchildren, Ben, Anna, Billy, Katy, Julia, Cole, Brendan, Delia, Joe, Anthony and Lizzy and by numerous nieces and nephews.
She was predeceased by her husband, James Canarie, her parents, Frank and Delia Bellizzi, her brothers, Peter Bellizzi, Dr. Joseph Belllizzi, Daniel Bellizzi and Dr. Frank Bellizzi and sisters, Anna Forcucci, and Jane Fischetti.
Visiting hours will be at Sheehan Hilborn Breen Funeral Home, 1084 New Britain Avenue, West Hartford, CT, TODAY, October 25 from 5-8 PM. A Mass of Christian will be held at St. Brigid Church 1088 New Britain Avenue, West Hartford, CT on Saturday, October 26 at 10 am. Burial will follow in Mt. St. Benedict Cemetery, Bloomfield, CT. In lieu of flowers, donations will be kindly accepted for the LaSalette Missionaries, 85 New Park Avenue, Hartford, CT or St. Brigid Parish, West Hartford, CT. Online condolences may be made at www.SheehanHilbornBreen.com
Mrs. Canarie, born in Hartford on October 22, 1923, was the daughter of the late Frank and Delia Bellizzi of San Basile, Italy. The family resided in the Parkville section of Hartford. After graduation from Hartford High, she began her career as a secretary in a local manufacturing plant before becoming administrative secretary to the Director of St. Francis Hospital.
She married James Canarie in 1955 and lived in Burlington, VT, South Hadley and Springfield, MA, raising 4 children, before returning to the Hartford area.
In Springfield, MA, where the family lived for twenty-five years, she was a secretary for the Chancellor of the Diocese. Upon her return to Hartford, she was executive assistant to three successive archbishops in the Archdiocese of Hartford. She retired at age 80, and then continued part-time and volunteer work until she was 90.
She was a member of St. Brigid Parish, West Hartford, and of the St. Brigid Ladies Guild, the LaSalette Mission Guild and the Catholic Women of Connecticut. For several years, she volunteered weekly at CRIS Radio, narrating programming for persons with impaired vision. In 1995, she received the Pro Ecclesia et Pontice medal from Pope John Paul II. Grace was an active community member and an avid reader. She was a beloved friend to many, but most of all, she delighted in the company of her family.
Grace Canarie is survived by her children Attorney David Canarie and his wife Pamela Koonz Canarie of South Portland, ME, her daughter Kathleen Canarie and her husband Alfred Schaeffer of Gray, Maine, her son Dr. Michael Canarie and his wife Dr. Lisa Visscher of West Hartford, CT and by her daughter Mary Sprout of Tolland, CT. She is also survived by grandchildren, Ben, Anna, Billy, Katy, Julia, Cole, Brendan, Delia, Joe, Anthony and Lizzy and by numerous nieces and nephews.
She was predeceased by her husband, James Canarie, her parents, Frank and Delia Bellizzi, her brothers, Peter Bellizzi, Dr. Joseph Belllizzi, Daniel Bellizzi and Dr. Frank Bellizzi and sisters, Anna Forcucci, and Jane Fischetti.
Visiting hours will be at Sheehan Hilborn Breen Funeral Home, 1084 New Britain Avenue, West Hartford, CT, TODAY, October 25 from 5-8 PM. A Mass of Christian will be held at St. Brigid Church 1088 New Britain Avenue, West Hartford, CT on Saturday, October 26 at 10 am. Burial will follow in Mt. St. Benedict Cemetery, Bloomfield, CT. In lieu of flowers, donations will be kindly accepted for the LaSalette Missionaries, 85 New Park Avenue, Hartford, CT or St. Brigid Parish, West Hartford, CT. Online condolences may be made at www.SheehanHilbornBreen.com