Emanuella "Mona" Manna Lauricella, a longtime resident of Newtown, died August 28, after a long illness. She was born in Franklin,N.J, and moved to Mount Vernon,N.Y., where she met her husband Carmine (Larry) Lauricella.

They moved to Newtown in 1967. Ms Lauricella worked at The Newtown Bee for many years. She was active in the Newtown community as a volunteer at St Rose of Lima parish and in the VNA in charge of its "Loan Closet." She also participated in the Homemaker's Club, the Newtown Library, was an avid card player, and loved a good joke. Ms Lauricella greatly enjoyed completing crossword puzzles and was often seen humorously making remarks as she read the New York Post.

She was a loving mother to Ellen and her husband Richard Repay of Manchester, Diane Lauricella of Norwalk, and Ruth and her husband David Berliner of Trumbull. She adored her three wonderful grandchildren, Nicholas, Alicia, and Andrew Repay.

Her family would like to thank her primary caregiver Rita and the other support staff of Masonicare, as well as all of the family, friends, and colleagues who provided love and support to the family and Ms Lauricella in her final days.

Friends may call at the Honan Funeral Home, 58 Main Street, Newtown, on Friday, September 1, from 10 to 11:30 am.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in St Rose of Lima Church, 46 Church Hill Road, Newtown, on Friday, September 1, at noon. Interment will follow at Newtown Village Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Newtown VNA, 45 Main Street, Newtown CT 06470 or to the National Audubon Society at audubon.org.

To leave an online condolence, visit honanfh.com.