Helen Perillo, 96, a longtime resident of Newtown, died peacefully on July 9, surrounded by her family after a short illness. She was born in Bridgeport in 1919.

Anthony, her husband of 53 years, and nine siblings predeceased her. She is survived by her brother William Haray of Bridgeport.

Mrs Perillo's daughter Arline Shanley, and husband Edward, of Newtown; daughter Marie Griffin of Forest Grove, Ore.;son Anthony, Jr, and his wife Rachel, of Springfield, Vt.; son Felix, and wife Susan, of Coquille, Ore.; and daughter Vanessa Peck, and partner Jim Lovely, of Forest Grove, Ore., also survive her. She will additionally be mourned by grandchildren, well as several great-grandchildren, great-great grandchildren, nieces, and nephews. She will also be missed by longtime friends and neighbors Marie and Jim Smith, and Knettie and Flip Archard, who she met through the Golden Opportunities program.

Mrs Perillo was a housewife and mother to five children, while also shouldering the burden of farm life for nearly 15 years on Little Brook Lane. At 50, she went to work at Grolier Publishing in Danbury where she enjoyed socializing with her co-workers and exploring her new-found working life outside the home. She earned her driver's license when she was in her 60s.

She loved her family, garden, taking family photographs, and attending mass at St Rose of Lima Church. She was an avid letter writer, sending long handwritten notes to family and friends across America.

Visiting hours will be conducted from 4 to 7 pm on Wednesday, July 13, at the Honan Funeral Home, 58 Main Street, Newtown. A mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at St Rose Church, 46 Church Hill Road, at 11 am on Thursday, July 14. Interment will follow at St Peter Cemetery, 73 Lake Avenue Extension, Danbury.

Donations may be made in Mrs Perillo's name to Golden Opportunities, a nonprofit senior program, PO Box 3663, Newtown CT 06470.