Olive A. Santavenere

1933 - 2021

Olive Amelia (LaMontagne) Santavenere, 87, wife of the late Horace Santavenere passed away on July 17, 2021 at Pilgrim Manor in Cromwell. Born in Hatfield, MA, she was one of three daughters of the late Herman and Eva (Pothier) LaMontagne. Olive earned her nursing degree at St. Francis Hospital in 1951, and later went on to earn several other degrees including a Bachelor's Degree from the University of Hartford, a Master's Degree from the University of Massachusetts, and a Doctoral Degree in 1992 from the University of Connecticut. She enjoyed teaching as much as learning and would help nursing students earn their degrees from Middlesex Hospital's School of Nursing, St. Joseph's College, Elms College, and Southern Connecticut State University where she retired in 2009. Olive enjoyed traveling with her sister Phyllis and nephew, David and taking day trips to New York City to enjoy Broadway shows and shopping trips with her daughter-in-law and grandchildren. Sunday dinners were a tradition for many, many years. She had a kind heart full of endless love and will be sorely missed. She is survived by her beloved family: her son Joseph with wife Patti; her son Gilbert with longtime partner Joseph Paparatto; her grandchildren Joseph Santavenere and wife Lauren, Alicia Luongo with husband Dan, and Derek Santavenere with wife Kelly; a sister, Phyllis Roth and her great-grandchildren, Joseph and Grace, Corry, and Caleb. Besides her husband and parents, she is predeceased by a sister, Betty Guertin. The Santavenere family wish to thank the staff at The Village at South Farms, as well as the caring staff at Pilgrim Manor and Beacon Hospice. Funeral services will be held from the Cromwell Funeral Home, 506 Main Street, Cromwell on Monday, July 26th at 9:00 am followed by a Mass of Christian Burial celebrated at St. John Church, 5 St. John Court, Cromwell at 10:00 am. Burial will follow in St. Sebastian Cemetery in Middlefield. Family and friends may call at the Cromwell Funeral Home on Sunday evening from 5:00 to 7:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Alzheimer's Association Connecticut Chapter, 200 Executive Boulevard, Southington, CT 06489-1058. To share memories or send condolences to the family, please visit www.doolittlefuneralservice.com .