Loretta M. Marcella

Loretta M. Marcella (Rae) ObituaryLoretta Rae Marcella, 86, of Torrington, CT passed away peacefully on March 27th 2025 at home after a long and courageous battle with dementia.
Loretta met her soulmate, Dan, at Highland Lake when she was a teenager swimming in the lake in the middle of a storm. Excited to start their new lives together, they took a bus to Florida and eloped at a small church. Loretta and Dan lived in several states before they returned to their home state of Connecticut to raise their sons, Dan and Lee.
Loretta found joy in many aspects of life but especially treasured her role as a grandmother. She was an ever-present figure at baseball games and school events-her support unwavering and her pride unmistakable. One of her favorite pastimes was accompanying her granddaughter to Oak Lawn Farm twice weekly. There she helped groom horses, clean the barn, and feed treats to the horses-forming special bonds with both Buddy the broody mare and Friday the timid barn cat, despite being allergic to cats.
Her deep love for animals extended far beyond the barn. Loretta was passionate about animal welfare and rescued several dogs over the years. Her final companion was Riggs-a surprise gift from Dan after she had declared "no more dogs." Riggs quickly became her devoted friend and source of comfort following Dan's passing in 2018.
Loretta was also an active member of Calvary Baptist Church, where she found community and spiritual fulfillment. Those who knew her will remember her for her tenacity-a quality she proudly linked to her Scottish heritage-and for always maintaining elegance even in moments of crisis.
She leaves behind a legacy of strength, compassion, and quiet resilience that will continue to inspire those who knew and loved her.
Services for Loretta will be private.
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Loretta Rae Marcella, 86, of Torrington, CT passed away peacefully on March 27th 2025 at home after a long and courageous battle with dementia.
Loretta met her soulmate, Dan, at Highland Lake when she was a teenager swimming in the lake in the middle of a storm. Excited to start their new lives together, they took a bus to Flor