Jennnie Ann Chiappa

CHIAPPA Jennnie Ann (Emielita) Chiappa, passed away Friday, March 20, 2009 at St. Vincent's Medical Center. Beloved wife of 50 years to Genio Chiappa who predeceased her in 2003, she made her home in Milford. Jennie was born July 15, 1922 to Teofil and Sophie Emielita. A native of Branford, she grew up on a farm with 10 siblings during The Great Depression so it wasn't surprising that her gardening prowess left an abundance of vegetables to either pickle or can at the end of the season. During World War II, she and her sisters were truly "Rosie the Riveters" as they carried on the war effort here at home working proudly as machinists or making bullets at local factories like Remington Arms, Harvey Hubbell and Sponge Rubber. In her high school yearbook, special note was made of her skill in "household arts." Wonderful memories of her chicken soup made exclusively for her "Darlings" (grandchildren) and homemade gnocchi in the earlier years were among her specialties. And there was always a "luscious" cake in the oven whenever you were there. Her greatest joys were her three children, Patricia Malarkey and her husband, Robert of Fairfield, James Chiappa and his wife, Rose of Trumbull and Genio Chiappa, Jr. and his close friend, Maryann Parizo of Milford in whom she took great delight and pride. Left also to bask in her warm memory are her six loving grandchildren, Cara, Lindsay, Rachel and Jason Chiappa, and Marissa and Rebecca Malarkey. In addition to her parents, she was also predeceased by her siblings, Mary, Rudolph, Charlotte, Theodore and Elizabeth. She is survived by Eddie, Leo, Mike, Chester, and Stella. A Funeral Service will be held Tuesday, March 24, 2009 at 10 a.m. in the Cody-White Funeral Home, 107 Broad Street on the Green, Milford, followed by interment in Saint Michael's Cemetery, Stratford. Family and friends may call Monday from 4 to 7 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer's Association, 279 New Britain Road, Suite 5, Kensington, CT 06037 www.codywhitefuneralservice.com.