Grace M. Ruggiero

Grace M. (Amato) Ruggiero, wife of the late Louis Ruggiero, passed away on Sunday, December 7, 2025 at her home.

She was born in Danbury on March 13, 1926, a daughter to the late Joseph and Angelina (Tomaino) Amato.

Grace attended Danbury schools and graduated from Danbury High School with the Class of 1944.

Upon graduation, she married Louis Ruggiero. She and her husband had two children together, Richard and Terry. They owned and operated the former Ruggiero Greenhouses in the King Street District of Danbury until 1977.

Grace was employed by Physicians for Women for seventeen years and Dr. Ali Kenter for five years. She later took own the task of being a bookkeeper for the former Cracker Barrel of Danbury, the Jones Accounting Firm and Jennings Oil.

A member of St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church of Danbury, Grace was a choir member for many years, and a member of the Calico Cats Quilting Club of New Fairfield.

Grace was an avid gardener and canned her home grown vegetables as a lifelong passion.

A widow at forty- three years of age, she dedicated her life to her family. Treating her six grandchildren to a vacation in Italy, she also traveled with family and friends all over the world until well into her seventies.

Grace was blessed to have been able to live independently until she was ninety- eight. She will always be remembered as "one tough cookie" and fiercely loyal to family and friends.

She is survived by her son Richard Ruggiero and his wife Angie, her daughter Terry Novella and her husband John, six grandchildren, ten great grandchildren, nieces, nephews and many cherished friends.

In addition to her parents and husband, she was predeceased by a brother Joseph Amato Jr. and a sister Rose Zarcone.

A Mass of Christian Burial will take place on Monday, December 15, 2025 at 10 a.m. in St. Anthony Catholic Church, 17 Granville Ave., Danbury with Rev. Eric Silva of St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church, Danbury officiating.

Burial will follow in St. Peter Cemetery, Danbury.

Friends will be received in the Jowdy-Kane Funeral Home, 9 Granville Ave., Danbury on Sunday, December 14, 2025 from 2p.m. to 5 p.m.