Carmela Razza

Carmela Razza, 96, of Danbury, formerly of Woodbury, died September 20 at Harborside Health Care in Danbury. She was the widow of Benjamin Razza.

Mrs Razza was born July 13, 1907, in Caltabelotta, Sicily, Italy. She was a renowned dressmaker working for Christian Dior and Norrell, among others, in New York. While in her early twenties, she made the gown that First Lady Lou Hoover, wife of President Herbert Hoover, wore to the Inaugural Ball. She also made dresses for singer Kate Smith. Formerly of Queens, N.Y., she lived in Woodbury before moving to Danbury.

She leaves one daughter, Marie Razza of Woodbury; two grandchildren, Suzanne Gagne of Newtown and Frank Finamore of Franklin Square, Long Island, N.Y., and four great-grandchildren, Madeleine and Lauren Gagne, and Vickie and Chrissy Finamore.

A funeral mass was held September 24 at Sacred Heart Church, Main Street South, Southbury. Burial was in Pinelawn Cemetery, Farmingdale, N.Y. Arrangements by Carpino Funeral Home, 750 Main street South, Southbury.

The Newtown Bee     September 26, 2003