Obituary of Karen Marie Cortese

Karen M. (Malara) Cortese, 58, of New Fairfield, beloved wife of the late Christopher Cortese, died peacefully in the presence of her family on Tuesday, November 15th in St. Raphael Hospital in New Haven. She was born on April 25, 1958, in Bronxville, NY, daughter of the Vilma (Paliani) Malara and the late Pasquale Malara. Karen enjoyed working as waitress for many area restaurants, including Jim Barbaries, Down the Hatch, and most recently, the Windmill Diner. She had many loyal customers who often requested seating in her section. She enjoyed the beach, and her favorite pastime was keeping her home impeccably clean. Her most important role was being a devoted mother who was active in all aspects of her children’s lives. Her door was always open to their friends, and she treated them as if they were her own. In addition to her mother, Vilma, she will be sadly missed by her cherished children, Christian J. Cortese, and Danielle R. Cortese; her three sisters, Linda Garbowski, Diane Reilly and her husband, Frank, Patricia Gallagher and her husband, Jim. She is also survived by her sisters-in-law, Karen Mastrovito and her husband, Rich, and Kim Cortese; her brother-in-law, Mike Garbowski; and many nieces and nephews. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, November 19th at 10:00am at Sacred Heart Church, 110 Shonnard Place, Yonkers, NY. Burial will follow in St. Joseph Cemetery, Yonkers. The family will receive friends at the Cornell Memorial Home, 247 White Street, Danbury, on Friday, November 18th between the hours of 3:00 and 7:00pm. Memorial Contributions in her memory may be made to Yale New Haven Hospital, Office of Development, PO Box 1849, New Haven, CT 06508, memo to read Medical ICU St. Raphael’s Unit. 203-688-9644.