Veronica Fornabaio

SOUTHBURY - Veronica (Ronnie) Helen Fornabaio, 76, of Southbury, Conn., died Sept. 21, 2023, at Norwalk Hospital. She was the beloved wife for 54 years of John Fornabaio.

She was born Sept. 7, 1947, in New York to the late Clare and Daniel Kessel. She lived in the Bronx until she was 34, then lived almost 30 years in Orange, Conn., before moving to Heritage Village in Southbury.

Ronnie graduated from St. Helena High School (now Monsignor Scanlan) in the Bronx. She worked as a secretary for the draft board, for Metropolitan Life and for Loral Electronics in New York. In Connecticut, she worked in schools in Orange and Milford, as well as in several doctors' offices. She treasured her time as a kindergarten teacher's aide at Mary L. Tracy School in Orange. She was also a president of the PTA at Peck Place School in Orange.

At Heritage Village, she served in the leadership of the Italian Renaissance Club, the Women's Club and the Men's Club.

She is survived by her husband; by her sons Michael and Matthew and daughter in law Christine; by her sisters, Clare Hoehn and Kathy Pollaro; by her brothers in law Ron Pollaro and Tom Fornabaio, and sister in law Louise Fornabaio; by nieces Debbie Hoehn, Kimberly Pollaro and Michele (Jon) Russo and by nephews Wally (Diane) Hoehn, Danny (Danielle) Hoehn and Jim (Denise) Fornabaio and their families; nine great-nieces and nephews and two great-great nephews, and innumerable cousins. She was predeceased by her parents; by her sister, Laura Hensler; by her brother in law, Wally Hoehn; and by several cousins.

The family would like to thank the staff at Danbury Hospital and Norwalk Hospital for their compassionate care.

Friends and family are welcome to attend a visitation from 4:00 - 8:00 PM on Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2023, in the daily chapel of Sacred Heart Church, 910 Main St. South in Southbury. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in the church at 9:30 AM on Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2023. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions to be forwarded to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, www.stjude.org.  For directions, or to leave a message of remembrance, please visit www.CarpinoCares.com.

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