Laura Hewitt, beloved daughter of Frank and Rosalia Corao, went home to her Heavenly Father on May 30, 2024. She passed away peacefully at her home on Lake Zoar in Sandy Hook, surrounded by the love of her adoring family. Laura was just shy of celebrating her 93rd birthday.

Born June 8, 1931, in Queens, N.Y., Laura was the child of Sicilian immigrants who came to the US through Ellis Island in the 1920s.

She doted over her 41 grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great­-great-grandchildren, and loved showing her friends pictures and videos of them on her iPad.

Laura’s family — and her sweet love story — started in an ice cream shop in 1948 when she met the love of her life, John Hewitt. When she first saw John, Laura told her friend she was going to marry him — and two years later they were married.

In 1954, the young couple moved to Fairfield, where they raised their six children, John Jr, Kathleen, Rick, Laureen, Paul, and Diane. The Hewitts lived on Saddleview Court and then Farist Road for many years.

John and Laura were a fun-loving couple and fun to be around. She enjoyed dancing — even into her 90s — and did a great rendition of “The Trolley Song.” Laura liked the music of the Bee Gees and Celine Dion; “Here I Am Lord” was a favorite worship song and was played to her many times in her final days.

From weekly Pinochle games to weddings and parties, Laura was always happy to entertain and host. Some of the parties at the historic Queen Anne Victorian style Farist house are still talked about.

Laura and John enjoyed traveling throughout their 41 years of marriage, with memorable trips to Hawaii, Florida and throughout Europe.

Laura and John moved to Sandy Hook in 1991 shortly before John passed away. In her grief, she found purpose: serving those in need through FAITH Food Pantry of Newtown.

Laura developed great friendships through FAITH and Tuesdays spent there — along with a group lunch outing after — became her “happy day.” The pantry’s kitchen is named after Laura and the flag outside the pantry will remain at half-staff until after her celebration of life, in honor of her 30-plus years of faithful service.

Laura loved unconditionally, and like a true Italian, she showed it through food. She was almost always cooking and no one ever left her house hungry — or without feeling better than when they walked in.

Her meatballs are legendary. Her homemade breadcrumbs, out of this world. The breadcrumbs were a labor of love for Laura, made by hand, never measured, with just the right feel. Countless batches were lovingly made over decades, given to family and friends, with an unmistakable smell and unmatched taste.

Laura was only about five feet tall, but her strength and faith were mighty. At 80, she was diagnosed with breast cancer and beat it. She beat breast cancer again five years later when it came back. Around the same time, Laura persevered through the heartache of losing her son Pumpkin, and a few years later, her daughter Kathleen. She survived Covid and lived a good quality of life with leukemia nearly seven months longer than doctors expected — with no treatment.

Even in the weeks before she passed, Laura remained sharp and hip. She was on Facebook, FaceTimed with family and friends daily, and liked watching TikTok videos on her iPad. She also enjoyed watching Turner Classic Movies and the Game Show Network from the comfort of her favorite spot on the couch, usually with a cup of tea.

Laura’s greatest joy was her family. She always told each of them: “I love you more.”

In addition to her husband John, son Pumpkin, and daughter Kathleen, Laura was predeceased by her brother Frank and his wife Josie.

She is survived by her sons, John Hewitt Jr and his wife Donna, of Lakeland, Fla., and Rick Hewitt and his wife Mindy, of Shelton; her daughters, Laureen and her husband Steve Collins of Sandy Hook, and Diane and her husband Carl Massafra of Shelton. “Gigi” will be greatly missed by her 41 grandchildren and extended family and many dear friends.

Friends are invited to join the family in celebrating Laura’s life on Monday, June 10, from 4-9 pm, in The Timber Room of The Heritage Hotel, 522 Heritage Road in Southbury. There will be a short prayer service at 6 pm.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Laura’s name to FAITH Food Pantry, PO Box 53, Newtown, CT 06470, or online at newtownfoodpantry.org/donations.