Irene H. Montanaro

Irene H. (Karnilowicz) Montanaro, 101, of Wethersfield, beloved wife for 50 years of the late Patrick J. Montanaro, passed away peacefully on Saturday, October 14, 2023. Born in Torun, Poland on August 30, 1922, she was the daughter of the late Stanley and Pauline (Wilczefski) Karnilowicz. She came to the U.S. in 1922 with her family. Irene worked as an administrative assistant at CT Bank & Trust and as an assistant buyer at Sage Allen in Hartford.

Irene was a lover of gardening, dancing, travel and shopping. Mom would spend hours and hours in her gardens, in her high heels. The only woman we knew who had gardening heels. We would yell out to her, “When is dinner?” and her reply, “When I am finished watering my garden!” She maintained gardens at her home on Crest Street in Wethersfield, her cottage “Irene” and our Nonnie’s cottage “Carmela” at Old Colony Beach, Old Lyme. We have no idea how she did it!

Mom took ballroom dance classes in her seventies, and would dance at every opportunity! She participated in ballroom dance competitions and we all got to watch her in Boston, where she won medals for various types of dance.

Her travels took her to cities in Europe and South America. She took a cross-country trip with her brother Rudy, his wife Mary and her sister Regina, stopping at as many casinos as they could find along the way. In 1999, Irene asked her granddaughters to go to Aruba with her. Paige and Alissa jumped at the chance. Alissa recalled, “I remember grandma dancing with a lot of locals…it was hard to keep up with her and we were teenagers!”

Mom loved to shop for herself, a true bargain shopper. She was always in high heels, with beautiful outfits and matching jewelry. She also loved to shop for her grandchildren. How could we forget the enormous Easter Baskets she put together for them. The grandchildren knew that if they were ever in need of something, they could check her stash in the closet or under the bed.

Mom was a lifelong member of the Democratic Party and volunteered for every election that took place in Wethersfield. She was also very active with the Colonel John Chester School PTA.

A loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, Irene will be forever missed by her two daughters, Lisa Wesnak and husband Thomas of Amherst, NH and Karen Kingston and husband Richard of Old Lyme; daughter-in-law, Patricia Montanaro and partner Paul Kravonka of Glastonbury; her seven adored grandchildren, Jason Montanaro, Paige Montanaro and wife Emily Pysh, Sasha Steen and husband Aaron, Lauren Smith and husband Tim, Vanessa Wesnak and husband Kurren Tatla, Brendan Manklang Kingston and wife Monica, and Alissa Kingston and four cherished great-grandchildren, Arlo Montanaro-Pysh, Zev and Avi Steen and Rex Manklang Kingston. She is also survived by many nieces, nephews and extended family members.

In addition to her husband and parents, Irene was also sadly predeceased by her beloved son, Patrick Montanaro; her sister, Zenia Karnilowicz; brother, Rudy Karnilowicz and sister, Regina Higgins.

Funeral services and burial in Rose Hill Memorial Park will be private. Donations in Irene’s memory may be made to the Elizabeth Park Conservancy, 1561 Asylum Avenue, West Hartford, CT 06117. The D’Esopo Funeral Chapel, Wethersfield has been entrusted with the arrangements. To share a memory of Irene with her family, please visit www.desopofuneralchapel.com.