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01/19/2023 10:17 AMConnie was a professional singer with the CT Experimental Theater under the direction of Maestro Francesco Riggio and was chosen by him to sing at the Brooklyn Academy in New York City. At age 18, she won first place in the Original Amateur Hour which started her musical career. Another venue she sang at was the Carnegie Recital Hall, also in New York City. She sang in many operas and also sang Italian songs at local feasts. She was the soloist at the former St. Patrick Church in New Haven for many years.
Connie was a great cook and loved to entertain family and friends. Everyone who has her crab sauce said it was the best they had ever tasted.
She and her first husband John traveled to Italy often to visit relatives. She and her husband Sabby spent many winters in Florida. She always dressed impeccably and would never leave the house without wearing matching jewelry.
She leaves a daughter, Irene Ruggiero of New Haven; sons, James and his fiancée Nikki Heery of Madison, Louis of Guilford, Gregory and his wife Jeannie of Guilford, John and his wife Janet of North Haven and David and his wife Corrine of North Haven; three stepdaughters, Carol (Dennis) Libby, Joanne Slot both of Cheshire, and Joyce Kostyk of Fairport, New York. Also, 13 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren, nine great-great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews and step grandchildren.
Connie was predeceased by her first husband John Cacopardo, a sister Angelina Arcangelo-Ciarmella, brothers Peter, and Louis (Edith) DeMichele, son-in-law John Ruggiero, and daughter-in-law Jeraldine Tiano Cacopardo.
The family would like to thank the staff at Atria Larson Senior Facility, Montowese Health and Rehabilitation Center, and Whitney Rehabilitation and Care Center for their wonderful care and support of our mom.
Connie’s funeral procession left East Haven Memorial Funeral Home, 425 Main St East Haven, Dec. 2, 2022, for a Mass of Christian Burial, celebrated at St. Pio of Pietrelcina Parish, St. Bernadette Church Townsend Ave, New Haven. Interment followed at St. Lawrence Cemetery, West Haven. Please consider a memorial contribution in Connie’s name to St. Jude- www.Stjude.org.