Irene (Hornbeck) Mattegat Cappellini, 84, beloved mother and grandmother, died peacefully surrounded by family February 13 at Regional Hospice and Home Care; Center for Comfort Care and Healing in Danbury. Mrs Cappellini, the daughter of the late Marion Hanlon-Hornbeck and Carl Hornbeck, lived her entire life in Sandy Hook. She was born in 1931 in the family's farmhouse on Sherman Street.http://regionalhospicect.org.

She attended school in Newtown, where she was known for her athleticism, playing both softball and basketball. As a member of Hawley School's Class of 1949, she was on the yearbook committee for all four years of high school, and had one of her poems published in "The Bugle." Following graduation she was hired to be Otto Heiss's assistant at The Heiss Company in Newtown. Upon being hired, she was also sent to Butler Business School in Bridgeport; her tuition was a gift paid for by Mr Heiss.

Mrs Cappellini was later employed at Edmond Town Hall as a dispatcher and switchboard operator.

An extraordinary baker, Mrs Cappellini was the co-owner of Special Occasions Bakery. Her wonderful cakes were known statewide. She was affectionately referred to as "The Cake Lady."

Her loving family, son and daughter-in-law Louis "Jay" and Melanie Mattegat of Newtown; son George E. Mattegat, Jr, of Newport, R.I.; daughter and son-in-law Marian and Bob St Pierre of Marshfield, Maine; and daughter and son-in-law Beth and Kevin Koschel of Sandy Hook; her grandchildren, Richard Lescrynski, Tammy Lescrynski-Wells and husband Jayson, Lauren Mattegat-Morehouse and husband Daniel, Jacey Mattegat, Kayla Koschel-Conroy and husband Patrick, and Marley Koschel; as well as five great-grandchildren; many special cousins; and her first husband, George E. Mattegat, survive Mrs Cappellini. Her parents; her brother, Carl Hornbeck, Jr; and her second husband, Paul M. Cappellini, predeceased her.

There are no calling hours or services planned at this time.

Donations may be made in her memory to Regional Hospice and Homecare, 30 Mile-stone Road, Danbury CT 06810 or