Lynn DeSantis Catalano, 81, of North Branford, passed away peacefully on Monday, February 15, 2021 at her home. Lynn was born in New Haven on March 31, 1939 and was the daughter of the late William and Lena Haas DeSantis. Lynn had worked as an Administrative Assistant at Yale University for over 38 years until her retirement in 2018. She was one of the original organizers for Local 34 at Yale University where she remained very active throughout her life. Lynn enjoyed spending time with her many friends, loved sports and was an avid Boston Red Sox fan. Mother of Paul (Cathleen) Catalano and Sharon (John) Perillo. Grandmother of Anthony and Angela Catalano, Michael and Jeffrey Perillo. Sister of Janet Festa of Stuart Fl. and Judith (Eugene) DellaVecchia of Clinton, Ct.
The visiting hours will be Tuesday morning, Feb. 23rd from 9:00 to 10:30 at The Havens Family, North Haven Funeral Home, 36 Washington Avenue. Her funeral procession will leave at 10:30 to All Saints Cemetery for a graveside service at 11:00. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Connecticut Hospice, 100 Double Beach Rd, Branford CT 06405 https://www.hospice.com/ where she volunteered after her retirement.
She was a true friend with a heart of gold.
My prayers to your family. A fellow local 34 sister. We worked, and Marched side by side for many years. She helped me out a few times at work. Again sorry for your loss.
Dear, dear Lynn had the spirit of a lion and the heart of a lamb. Loved her.
Raymond
Lynn, you had a spirit and passion unlike anyone else I have ever met! you could always make me laugh!! I love you, and will miss you everyday my friend! i will miss your crazy stories and our one on one conversations, you were a cheerleader for anyone you considered a friend! My thoughts and prayers go out to all of Lynn’s family as I knew how special you all were to her. May your memories of Lynn always bring a smile to your face and a warmth to your heart. God Bless
Robin
Dear Paul, Angela and family, Words alone cannot begin to express my deepest sympathy for your loss. I worked with you mom and grandmother at Yale University and recall what a pleasure it was to be in her company. She was a leader among many in a time of negotiations with Yale. I worked with her over 35 years and during that time I saw her true dedication to her work and causes. She leaves behind many wonderful memories which you will recall over the next few days in the company of family and friends. Just know she is at peace with your family of angels and Heaven is now her home. I will always keep Lynn, in my prayers.
Lynn was one of the most generous people I have ever known. I have taken her example of honesty to heart and going forward I will try to follow her example of thinking of now & the future and not wasting time regretting the past. She didn’t believe in over-thinking either but in action: DO something- don’t just think about doing or talk about doing. She had no patience for that.
I count it as a privilege to have been a friend of hers; I never knew anyone like her and I know I never will- she was truly one of a kind. I still can’t grasp that someone so full of earthly life has gone from it.
Sorry to learn of the passing of such a good woman. Sincere condolences to her family.
Dear Paul, Cathy and Family,
We are so very sorry to hear about the passing of your Mom. She was such a wonderful friendly and warm person. You were so good to her and she loved her family and friends so. May she Rest In Peace.
Tom and Mary Sue FitzSimons
Thank you for all the memories, my friend. We were so lucky to have you in our lives, you will be forever in our hearts. My sincere condolences to the family.
Our condolences and deepest sympathies to Paul and the entire Catalano family
Dear Paul and Cathy
We send our thoughts and prayers to you and the family. We loved your Mom and always looked forward to being with her at Bobbi and Joes party’s. She was warm hearted and saw comedy out of every situation. May she rest in God’s arms at peace.
We are living in New Hampshire near our daughter and we will not be able to attend. You will be in our prayers.
Love Les and Dorie Mosko
Catalano Family and friends. On behalf of the Devine’s from Westminster Street I send our heartfelt condolences. We remember your Mother and your family fondly. I remember our fathers a time or two in the basement yelling and screaming at the New York Giants. God bless you all at this time and going forward.
I HEARD Lynn on her megaphone when I was on the strike line at Yale in the mid 90’s. We briefly met at that time, as well. I truly met Lynn when I started working in the Parking and Transit Office almost 5 years ago. I feel in love with her gentle ferocity, colorful language and the way she loved her family and friends! My sincerest condolences to her family. I will miss Lynnie dearly.
Dear Paul,
My sincere condolences to you and your sister and all your family on the loss of your Mom. It was my privilege to have known and worked with Lynn for so many years at Yale and in Local 34. She was a good woman, with a generous heart and a fiery spirit, and she never hesitated to speak her mind in the face of any injustice. She was a larger-than-life presence in so many ways, and it is hard to believe she is no longer a part of this world.
Please take care and know that I am thinking of you all in sympathy and friendship at this time.
Dear Sharon & Paul & the entire family,
I was so deeply saddened to hear of the loss of you mom. I adored her when I was a teenager. I looked to her as a second mom. I’ll never forget how she warmed my heart when she showed up to my dad’s wake 20 years ago and I hadn’t seen her in years. She was a very special person that I was very blessed to know. My love, heart, thoughts and prayers are with you all. Candace