Jean Damato

Jean R. (Stefano) Damato, 98, longtime Avon resident, peacefully passed away at UConn Medical Center with her family by her side. Jean was born on September 27, 1923, and was the third of ten children born to the late Mary (Stavola) and Joseph Stefano. They grew up in the south end of Hartford during the Great Depression, and Jean often enthralled her family with stories from that era.

After marrying her beloved husband, Nick, Sr., they had a son, Nick, Jr., who she described as her “greatest possession.” Throughout their 50 plus year marriage, Nick, Sr. and Jean hobnobbed with the Hartford Society community, and in 1963 was proudly featured in a local newspaper article wearing a lime green gown to a Boys’ Towns of Italy Ball. From 1967 until her retirement, Jean was a loyal employee of Allstate Insurance Company, where she worked her way up from Accounting to Regional Receptionist/Stat Assistant. She pridefully kept her annual reviews, one of which described her as having a “0% error ratio” due to her desire for perfection and unrivaled mathematical acumen.

Jean was a devout Catholic and faithful Communicant of St. Patrick’s Church and Church of the Incarnation. Above all, Jean cherished her family, mostly her husband and son, the “Nickys”, who predeceased her, and her cat Shelby. She also loved her grandchildren, siblings, nieces and nephews, and was fiercely adored by them.

Jean will be deeply missed and forever remembered by her devoted grandchildren, Nicole Pierce and her husband Jeff, Kristin Brazalovich and her husband Phil, Peter Damato and his wife Cathy, Katie Damato, and John “Jack” Damato, as well as great-grandchildren Brittany, Philip, Jr., Casey, Jackie and Michael, and great-great granddaughters Adelina and Aria. She also leaves her brother Michael P. Stefano and his wife Lois; sisters Mary Frances Ensign and Nancy Abbate; sister-in-law Dolores Stefano and several nieces and nephews, most especially Andrea Quercia and her husband Chuck, and many friends.

Jean was also predeceased by brothers John and Johnny Stefano and sisters Rose Stefano, Margaret Marek, Justina Connolly, and Dolores Brunetti.

The family wishes to thank the nurses and doctors of UConn, as well as the AccentCare hospice nurses, who provided the best care imaginable under the circumstances, and changed her lifelong fear of hospitals.

Visitation for Jean will be Wednesday, July 13th at the D’Esopo Funeral Chapel, 277 Folly Brook Blvd., Wethersfield from 4 to 6 p.m. with a prayer service beginning at 6:00. Burial will be private. Memorial donations in Jean’s name may be made to the Connecticut Humane Society, 701 Russell Rd., Newington, CT. 06111. For online expressions of sympathy please visit wwwdesopofuneralchapel.com.