Mary Montano (Cardello)

Mary (Cardello) Montano, 89, died Monday, (October 31, 2011) surrounded by her loving family. Mary was born on December 4, 1921 to the late Frank and Rose (Ridolfo) Cardello of Hartford, the third of four daughters, and grew up in Hartford's Front Street area. She was a proud graduate of Hartford Public High School, class of 1939. While working for the United States Department of the Navy in the late forties, she met ""the love of her life"" and, on May 14, 1949, married Navy veteran and Yale Graduate, Class of '46, Albert J. Montano. ""He was so handsome,"" she would tell her six children, six grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren. Mary and Al settled in Hartford and began raising their family. At the urging of her younger sister Helen, they moved to Newington in 1968 to take advantage of Newington's fresh air and excellent schools. Besides her husband, Mary was predeceased by her sisters, Lena Cappello, Josephine D'Agata and Helen Langin; her sons, Joseph and Robert and her daughter, Janet Percival. She leaves behind her daughter, Marie Fox and husband Michael; grandchildren, Marc and Matthew Fox, Matthew's wife Jen; and great-grandchildren, Kayley and two week-old Brooklyn, all of with whom she made her home; their daughter Marisa Lenzi and her husband Paul and their children, Joseph, Brittney, Emma and Mikaya; her son, Michael, wife Laurie and grandchildren Meagan and Michelle; her son, John and wife Toni, all of Newington and granddaughter, Jennifer Dunleavy; and four great-grandchildren; as well as many cousins who remember her for her special cakes. Mary also leaves behind many loving nieces, nephews and godchildren. The family would like to thank the staff at Day Break Adult Day Care Center for caring for our mother for the last 15 years and many thanks for the love and compassion shown by the staff of the New Britain General Hospital Emergency Department, especially Dr. Lampson and staff.

The funeral is Friday at 9 a.m. from the D'Esopo Funeral Chapel, 277 Folly Brook Blvd., Wethersfield with a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. in St. Patrick-St. Anthony Church, 285 Church St., Hartford. Burial will follow in Mt. St. Benedict Cemetery, Bloomfield. The family will receive relatives and friends on Thursday from 4-7 p.m. at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations by made to the Newington Volunteer Fire Department Company No. 1, 1485 Main St., Newington, CT 06111 or to the Newington Volunteer Ambulance Corps, 71 John Stewart Drive, Newington, CT 06111. For online expressions of sympathy to the family, please visit www.desopo.com.