Merinda Ann DePaolo

She was born on September 12, 1943 in New Britain the daughter of the late Pasquale and Anna (DiCaprio) DePaolo. Ms. DePaolo graduated from the University of Hartford and received her masters at UCONN. She was a School Social Worker for the Southington School Systems for over 30 years.

Merinda was a person who devoted her life to the children of Southington. Through her kind and loving manner she had touched the lives of so many people. She lived a life of sharing and service. She received the CT School Social Worker of the year in 1991 and again in 2001 and received an official citation from the State of CT General Assembly. She also received the Educator of the Year Award in 1990 and was given the Jaycee Educator of the year service award. Merinda was a former member of the Southington Red Cross, the St. Thomas School Board, the Southington VNA Board, the Margaret Griffin Day Board, the Child Development Center, and also the CT state and local committee of Social workers. She was a parishioner of St. Thomas Church.

She is survived by her brother Dr. Joseph DePaolo and sister-in-law Shirley of Jupiter, FL, a niece Sheryl DePaolo of Boston, MA, 2 nephews; Michael DePaolo of Long Beach, CA Joseph DePaolo Jr. Esq. of Bristol.

The Funeral will be held on Friday, May 14, 2010 at 10:15 a.m. from the Della Vecchia Funeral Home, 211 N. Main St. to St. Thomas Church at 11 a.m. for a Mass. Burial will be at St. Thomas Cemetery. Calling hours will be on Thursday from 4-8 p.m. Donations may be made in her memory to St. Thomas Church, 99 Bristol St. Southington, CT 06489 or Margaret C. Griffin Child Development Center, 240 Main St. Southington, CT 06489