Catherine Elsa Wall

Catherine Elsa Wall, affectionately known as “Cookie,” passed away on October 17, 2021, at the age of 77. She was surrounded by her five children in the comfort of Middlesex Hospital. She was a lifetime resident of Clinton, CT.

Born Elsa Marie Wall, on November 12, 1943, in New Haven, CT, to Elsa Maria (Rising) and Thomas Francis Wall. She graduated from The Morgan School in 1961. She went on to become a nurse and spent a 35-year career at Yale New Haven Hospital working for more than 2 decades in postpartum care. She welcomed many generations of Clinton residents into the world which brought her great joy.

To know Cookie was to love her, and to be loved by her. She embodied goodness. She had high expectations about how people should treat each other, yet offered tremendous grace in the face of imperfection. She was compassionate, generous, respectful, and, above all, forgiving. She had a huge heart, and was committed to lifting people up. She made the world a kinder place.

She was active in the Clinton community and was an avid Democrat who lived to ensure a quality of life for all persons. One of her greatest contributions was establishing and serving on the inaugural Board of Youth and Family Services, currently known as Clinton Human Services Advisory Board.

Cookie grew up on East Main Street surrounded by siblings and Clinton teachers in the family-run boarding house. She is predeceased by her brothers, Thomas F. Wall Jr., Peter D. Wall, and sister M. Joan (Wall) Hagigh. She is survived by her loving sister Harriet A. (Wall) Juel (Richard), also of Clinton.

Her greatest joy in life was her children and grandchildren. She leaves behind her five children: Charlene (Toal) Best, Christine (Toal) Lee (Vernon), Kathleen (Toal) Mills (Brett), Elizabeth Magnano, and David Magnano (Kristin). She will be missed by her nine grandchildren: Caroline Best, Alexander Best, Jason Lee, Nathan Mills, Zachary Mills, Lauren Mills, Libby Magnano, Liana Magnano, and Cameron Magnano.

She was predeceased by her former husbands, Charles P. Toal, Jr., Anthony S. Magnano, and widowed by Daniel W. Michalski.

Calling hours will be Saturday, October 30, 2021, 3-6 pm with a memorial service from 6-7 pm at Swan Funeral Home, 80 East Main Street, Clinton, CT. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Families Helping Families, Inc., PO Box 166, Clinton, CT, 06413.