Obituaries

Nellie M. Stefanski Carrato

May 28, 1922 - April 16, 2016

Burial Date April 26, 2016

4-25-2016 5 to 8 pm

New London – Nellie M. (Carrato) Stefanski, 93, of New London, peacefully entered eternal life on Saturday, April 16, 2016, in the comfort of her loving daughters. She was the beloved wife of Donald Stefanski, who survives her.

She was born Anella Maurina Carrato to Antonio and Felicia (Merola) Carrato, on May 28, 1922, in Latimer Mines, Pa.

In 1940, Nellie graduated from Hazleton Senior High School. She earned her R.N. from St. Joseph School of Nursing in Reading, Pa. in 1945, and her bachelor in education degree in 1950 from the University of Pennsylvania. She matriculated into the nursing administration master’s program at Columbia University in New York.

Highlights of her nursing career include instructor, health director, general duty and head nurse at St. Joseph Hospital in Reading, Pa. In addition, she was the assistant director of nursing services and auxillary nursing supervisor as well as a clinical instructor and nursing arts instructor at Elizabeth General Hospital in Elizabeth, N.J. Nellie moved to New London to continue her nursing career as instructor of nursing arts at Lawrence + Memorial Hospital.

Nellie’s professional nursing affiliations included the New Jersey State Nurses Association, the Connecticut State Nurses Association, the National League of Nursing, the Catholic Nurses Stella Maris Chapter/Norwich Diocese, the American Nurses Association, and the National League of Nursing Education.

Nellie volunteered as a religious educator at St. Joseph Church in New London from 1962 to 1976. She was a member of the confraternity of Christian woman, St. Joseph women club, the education and liturgical committees of the parish council, lector, and Eucharistic minister.

She was employed at St. Joseph Church as the director of religious education from 1976 to 2000, and as a part-time secretary until her retirement in 2012.

Nellie received her Lay Minister certificate in 1982, the first Lay Ministry class in the Diocese of Norwich.

She was united in marriage to her husband, Donald, in 1957, at St. Michael Church in Elizabeth, N.J.

In addition to her husband, Nellie is survived by her daughters and their families, Mary Anne and Bill Stewart of Salem and Phyllis and Gregory Boretsky of Madison and their children, Victoria, Nicholas, Monica and Stephen. She is also survived by her nephews, Anthony, Peter and Thomas Carrato.

Nellie was predeceased by her parents; sister, Mary; and brother, Carmen.

Her family will receive relatives and friends from 5 to 8 p.m. Monday, April 25, at the Impellitteri-Malia Funeral Home, 84 Montauk Ave., New London. Guests are invited to gather for a Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. Tuesday, in St. Joseph Church, 17 Squire St., New London. Burial at St. Mary Cemetery will be private.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Bernard School, where a scholarship will be awarded in memory of Nellie’s careers in nursing and education. Make checks payable to St. Bernard School and note Stefanski Scholarship, mail donations to St. Bernard School, Attn: Dana Williams, 1593 Norwich-New London Tpke., Uncasville, CT 06382. – See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/theday/obituary.aspx?n=nellie-m-stefanski&pid=179730134&fhid=6913#sthash.axsz2I5J.dpuf