Camille “Millie” Pollaci, 100, of Newtown, died peacefully June 28 at Bethel Health Care. She was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., the oldest of five children.  In 2004, she moved from Sag Harbor, N.Y., to Nunnawauk Meadows in Newtown and began a new chapter in her life, at the age of 90. 

Whether you saw her at bingo, canasta, a Mohegan Sun bus trip, or on Sundays at Trinity Church, she was always dressed beautifully and brought her smile with her wherever she went. Many were delighted when, as the Sunshine Secretary at Nunnawauk, Mrs Pollaci would finish up her meetings with a funny story or joke to share. She had a wonderful relationship with countless friends throughout her lifetime. From high school days in Brooklyn as an “Eaglet,” she kept in contact with all of those friends well into her 90s. Once a year she would go back to Sag Harbor, Long Island, to spend a few days visiting her longtime friends.

In addition to being a loving wife and mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and great-great-grandmother, she had many interests: cooking, baking, sewing, photos and scrapbooking, journaling, playing bridge, bingo and canasta, and doing the jumble puzzle. She also worked for 20 years in payroll at the Brooklyn Army Terminal and really appreciated her pension. Mrs Pollaci was an active member of the Nunnawauk Meadows Association as well as a member of the Red Hats.

When asked about her “secret” to longevity she would usually answer that she didn’t drink alcohol or smoke and stayed out of the sun; she also laughed a lot. Even into her 90s she still had a beautiful elegance about her. She never looked her age and she got a kick out of living into her hundredth year.

Mrs Pollaci was dearly loved by a large family including her daughter Anita Arnold, and husband Drew, of Newtown; sons Arthur Pollaci and Ron Pollaci, and his wife Jackie, from New York; her dear sister, Anita Miano from California; grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren from New York, New Jersey, Arizona, and Virginia; and many cousins, nieces, nephews, and numerous friends whose lives were touched by her grace. Her high school sweetheart and husband of 61 years, Matthew Pollaci, predeceased her in 1999. Her dear son Matthew, Jr, and her beloved granddaughter Elizabeth Arnold also predeceased Mrs Pollaci. 

A Mass in celebration of her life will take place at Trinity Episcopal Church, Newtown, Saturday, July 26, at 11 am. 

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Trinity Church, 36 Main Street, Newtown CT  06470, “Memorial Fund” in the memo line.