Catherine Serino

Catherine J., Serino
Catherine (Cathy) J. Serino, 77, of Middletown, passed away suddenly on December 24, 2018. She was born in New Haven on January 15, 1941 to Jean and Mary Serino and was the youngest of three sisters. After her father passed when she was 16, Cathy went to work for the Ironworkers to help pay for her tuition. She persevered and graduated from St. Mary's High School in New Haven. After graduation, she attended Southern Connecticut State University where she earned a Bachelor's Degree in Special Education. Cathy always dreamed of opening a daycare one day as she was always devoted to children's welfare and cared about the less fortunate, but her life took a different path. During a long and successful career, she became the first woman hired by Council 4, AFSCME as well as the first woman to serve as a Mediator for the State of Connecticut Department of Labor. Cathy also served as the Executive Assistant to Labor Commissioner Peter Reilly. In the course of her working life, she left the employ of the State of Connecticut and worked ten years for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development before being recruited by then Commissioner Tianti to return to the service of the State of Connecticut. At the time of her passing, Cathy served as a Mediator/Director of Mediation and Arbitration and was beloved by both the "good" and the "bad" boards. Cathy was a caring, generous woman who always helped with many different charities. Cathy had a warm heart and enjoyed cooking for and entertaining family and friends at her cottage in Higganum. She was an animal lover and a voracious reader of mystery novels. When relaxing, Cathy always loved to sip Jameson, always neat. Cathy was the type of person you wish was your godmother, sister, or friend, because she made you feel so special and so very loved. Everybody who knew Cathy was very grateful to have shared their life with her. Cathy never met a person she didn't like as she cared about everyone and her loving, outgoing personality attracted everyone to her. Cathy was predeceased by sisters, Angela Toro and Rosemary Speranza, as well as her nephew, Jason Toro. She was the loving Aunt of Jean Toro (Judy), Paul Speranza (Louella), Pasquale Speranza Jr. (Marlin), Mary Jane Speranza, and many great nieces, nephews, friends and adopted family members. She leaves behind Katherine Foley who was her friend and co-worker for over 40 years. Cathy touched many lives and will be sorely missed
Friends may call at MARESCA & SONS FUNERAL HOME, 592 Chapel St., Saturday from 8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m and then go directly to St. Michael's Church, 29 Wooster Pl., New Haven for a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. Burial in East Lawn Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to St.Jude.org. or ASPCA. Offer condolences at marescafuneralhome.com.