Margaret Cretella

Naugatuck - Margaret Cretella, 78, of Naugatuck passed away on Thursday, March 27, 2025, at St. Mary’s Hospital. She was the wife of Louis F. Cretella who passed away on March 21, 2001. After 24 years they are reunited in heaven.

Margaret was born in the Greenwich Village neighborhood of New York City on July 23, 1946, to the late Anna Marie (Regan) Hanley. She grew up in Saint Veronica‘s Parish with too many Irish cousins to count. She called Naugatuck home for the last six decades, but still proudly maintained her New York accent. She had the gift of great Irish wit and toughness, but underneath she bore a servant's heart who loved her family, God, her Catholic faith, and reminding everyone that she was the boss.

Margaret graduated from Mattatuck Community College with a degree in Gerontology and worked for more than 30 years for Goodwill Industries in New Haven as a job coach before her retirement. Her work family was a collection of treasured coworkers and clients who loved keeping in touch with her, talking for hours on the phone.

Left to mourn are her children, Anne (Mike) Ciacciarella, Joanne Cretella, Mary (Mike) Rey, Kevin (Lisa) Cretella all of Naugatuck. She also leaves behind her beloved grandchildren, Michael Brown, Anthony Cretella, Jane Cretella, Michael Ciacciarella, Vincent Ciacciarella, Dr. Sofia Ciacciarella, Anna (Joseph) Germain, Arianna Christen, Louis Cretella, and Jillian Cretella. She also leaves two brothers, Thomas and Cornelius, many nieces and nephews and cousins, lifelong friends, and friends of her children and grandchildren. She was predeceased by her loving sister Jane Salamone.

Arrangements – Visitation will be held on Wednesday, April 2, 2025, from 10 to 11:30 am at the Buckmiller Ford Mengacci Funeral Home, 82 Fairview Ave., Naugatuck. At 11:30, Mrs. Cretella’s funeral procession will proceed to St. Francis of Assisi Church for a Mass of Christian Burial at 12 noon. Burial will follow in St. James Cemetery.