Obituary of Audrey Lucille Cappiello

Audrey Lucille (Peterson) Cappiello was born in West Haven, CT on August 26, 1932 to Charles A. and Ranghild Appolonia (Hanson) Peterson. Although born at the height of the Great Depression, she was the last of 3 children and a joy to her family. Her bothers, Lawrence and Charles Junior were considerably older (18 and 13 years, respectively). She grew up in the house that her father, a master carpenter, built at 19 Lincoln Street, West Haven, CT. She financially supported her mother while at UCONN after her father died in 1948. She was graduated in 1954 with a degree in chemistry and minor in mathematics. She worked in the Yale-New Haven medical laboratory after graduation where she met her future husband, Alphonse, from New Haven. They were married on November 19, 1955 and moved to Clapboard Ridge Heights in 1957, which subsequently became 1 Stuart Drive. Her mother lived with them until her death in 1963. As customary of the times, Audrey managed the household while her husband supported the family. She had various pets through the years and rode her bicycle to volunteer at the Danbury Hospital coffee shop. Alphonse and Audrey ran 5K races in their later years and she was a renowned master gardener at the Community Gardens in Danbury where she had several plots.

After Alphonse died on December 8, 2008, she was unable to remain in her home because of blood cancer, which she contracted at age 65, and was a resident of Glen Hill Nursing Home from February 15, 2011 until her death on January 7, 2024. It was on February 29, 2012 that she met her special friend, John A. Fegley, who answered a call to assist her with tax preparation and became a weekly visitor for the rest of her life. She was the only one of her family to reach 80 and he relished sharing with her how old she had become to the day. She was 91 years, 4 months, 1 week and 5 days when she passed. They were able to celebrate many birthdays together, but her 90^th and 91^st birthdays were very special to him. He will fondly remember how she loved to do her laps in the hall in a wheelchair after lunch for many years before listening to NPR News. At his request, her cremains were interred at Prince of Peace cemetery in Brookfield, CT after a private graveside service on January 26, 2024. She was remarkable person who never lost her sense of humor despite her debilitating illness. She loved to laugh.

Her attorney, Martin Lawlor and his assistant, Karen (Timmy) Kidder, were very kind to her. The staff at Glen Hill Nursing Home lovingly cared for her for almost 13 years and became like family. Thank you.

Donations in her memory may be made to Danbury-VITA, Inc., 152 Deer Hill Avenue, Danbury, CT 06810 and Prince of Peace Lutheran Church Love Fund, P.O. Box 5184, 119 Junction Road, Brookfield, CT, 06804. 

Cornell Memorial, 247 White Street, Danbury, CT helped to handle the arrangements.