Cecilia Ferrara "Ceil" Asor

ASOR, CECILIA " CEIL" FERRARA Cecilia "Ceil" Frances Ferrara Asor, 93, of Hamden, passed away peacefully at Connecticut Hospice, Branford on June 22, 2013. She was the wife of the late Arthur L. Asor, her husband of 53 years at the time of his passing in 2000. Born in New Haven on Feb. 29, 1920 (Leap Year), she was the daughter of the late Luigi Ferrara and Josephine Ferrara Gambardella, and stepdaughter of Andrea Gambardella, founder of the Gambardella Fish Market. She resided on State St., Hamden, Bella Vista, New Haven and Thompson Gardens, East Haven before returning to Hamden in 2007. She graduated from Sacred Heart Grammar School, Class of 1934; and attended Commercial High School. She worked at Winchester Repeating Arms before and during World War II. She also worked at the Hotel Taft where she met countless entertainers who performed at the Shubert Theater. She was last employed by the New Haven Housing Authority. Ceil was delighted and honored to be interviewed about her life by New Haven author, Anthony Riccio, and will be featured in his upcoming book, "Farms, Factories and Families: Italian-American Women of Connecticut". Ceil will always be remembered as a loving, kind and generous person. She and her late husband enjoyed vacationing in Canada, New Hampshire, Cape Cod, the Lake George/Lake Luzerne area of New York State, and enjoyed cruises to the Caribbean. Together, they established a scholarship fund at St. Stephen School to provide educational opportunities to students who might otherwise not be able to receive a Catholic education. She was the loving mother of Sandra (Gregory J.) Piontek and devoted grandmother of Christine and Robert Piontek, whom she cherished. She is also survived by several nieces, nephews and dear friends. She was predeceased by her daughter, Doreen; her sisters, Antoinette (Dolly) Esposito, Anna Ruotolo, Mary Violano, Rae Marro and Josephine Nuzzo; and her brother, Frank Ferrara. Funeral from The Celentano Funeral Home, 424 Elm St. (cor. Dwight), New Haven, Friday morning at 10:30. Mass of Christian Burial in St. Stephen's Church, 400 Ridge Road, Hamden at 11:00. Friends may call at the funeral home prior to the funeral from 9:30 to 10:30. Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Asor Scholarship Fund for Catholic Education, c/o Maria Testa, Principal, St. Stephen's School, 418 Ridge Road, Hamden, CT 06517 or The Connecticut Hospice, 100 Double Beach Rd., Branford, CT 06405. The Piontek Family would like to acknowledge, with sincere appreciation, the exceptional loving and compassionate care provided by the following women: Stephanie, Ceil's long time aide and friend, along with Debbi, Sally and Frances. A special thanks to Nancy for her devotion to Ceil during her recent illness, particularly during her days at CT Hospice. Her faithfulness will always be remembered with heartfelt gratitude.