Grace Cavero Feliu

FELIU Grace Cavero Feliu, age 41, of Cheshire, left this world on Tuesday, August 8, 2006 to be with the Lord. Her family and friends were with her at Waterbury Hospital to see her begin her journey. Her devoted husband, David, was by her side as he has been from the day they were married eight years ago. Grace was born on October, 26, 1964 in Hartford, to her mother, Adela Mayo (deceased) and her father, Manuel Cavero. She attended Saint Joseph Elementary School and South Catholic High School, where she was a cheerleader. She went on to attend Trinity College on a scholarship and later the University of Connecticut Law School from which she graduated with a degree of Juris Doctor in 1989. After law school, Grace became employed by the Office of the Public Defender for the State of Connecticut. She rose to the position of Supervisory Assistant Public Defender for Juvenile Matters in New Britain Superior Court, where she worked until very recently. She was a fearless advocate for the rights of children in the juvenile justice system. She attended Christ Community Church and later Fellowship of Life Church, both in Cheshire. Grace was a member of the Connecticut Hispanic Bar Association, where she met her future husband in 1996 at a board meeting. She saw him again at the Inaugural Ball in 1997 in Washington D.C. They later began dating and she was married to him on June 26, 1998. She gave birth to two beautiful children, Gabriel in 2001 and Erica in 2004. On December 31, 2004 Grace was diagnosed with breast cancer. She fought the disease with courage, strength and dignity. She was supported in her battle by her husband, her family, her friends, her doctors, nurses and the staff at the Leever Center in Waterbury and by her support group, Brave at Heart. "Gracie" as many people called her, was loved and admired for her dedication to her career and to her family. She was as forceful with her arguments in court on behalf of her clients as she was kind and loving to her children at home. She loved to shop, usually for someone else and she always tried to remember birthdays and send greetings to people. Anyone who knew Gracie, whether it was for a minute or a lifetime, had the same feeling about her. Gracie was very special and had a way of connecting with people that she came into contact with. One could not help but be affected by her presence and love. Gracie is survived by her husband, David; her two children, Gabriel and Erica; her father, Manuel; her step-mother, Celina; her sister, Sylvia; her step-brother and step-sister, Adam and Eva and their families. She is also survived by her Tias, Julia, Sara and Mirta; her uncle Willie; her grandmother, Aurelia; and her cousins, Rosie and Kitty, Angela, Maria, Danny, Dale, Armandito, Patty, Leyla; and many other aunts and uncles and cousins. The family will receive friends and visitors in the Fellowship of Life Church, 150 Sandbank Road in Cheshire, telephone 203-272--7976 on Friday from 4 to 8 p.m. Service will be held on Saturday at 10 a.m. in the Church, followed by internment in Cheshire Hillside Cemetery. The Slater Funeral Home, 242 So. Main Street, is in charge of arrangements. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Gabriel and Erica Feliu Scholarship Fund, C/O People's Bank, 275 Highland Avenue, Cheshire, 06410, where an account has been set up.