Louise Ortoleva

Louise Ortoleva
Louise A. Ortoleva (Colella), a lifetime resident of New Haven, CT, died peacefully on June 19, 2021 at the age of 80 after a short illness. Louise is survived by her loving husband of 58 years John and her three sons, John Ortoleva, Jr. (Monique) of Ferndale, MI, Christopher Ortoleva (Jacqueline) of Issaquah, WA, and Joseph Ortoleva of Madison, CT. Sister of Sebastian Colella (Camille) of North Haven, CT, Arthur John Colella of Niantic, CT, and Daniel Gonet of Niantic, CT. She was the daughter of the late Arthur and Clara Colella of New Haven, CT and beloved aunt to Paul Colella and Dawn Caldarella (Joseph). After graduating from Wilbur Cross High School in 1958 where she was the Harvest Festival Queen, Louise accepted a job as a secretary at Tradesmans Bank in New Haven. In 1962, she and John were married at St. Donato's Catholic Church in New Haven and honeymooned in Bermuda. In 1966, they built a home together in the Fair Haven Heights Section of New Haven where she and John lovingly raised their family and lived until her passing. Always a great communicator with a natural gift for public speaking, Louise became a lecturer at night in the 1970s for Weight Watchers, where she helped hundreds of people achieve their weight loss goals by providing them with hope, inspiration and powerful words of encouragement. While raising her three young sons, Louise accepted an administrative position in the Human Resources Department at Connecticut Savings Bank, where her dynamic personality and excellent interpersonal skills allowed her to work her way up to eventually holding an officer position. Louise also worked as a secretary for 17 years at the Yale Medical School, where she was universally loved and adored by her co-workers and the medical students who she interacted with. A devoted mother and wife, Louise always worked two jobs so that her family would never want for anything, her sons could have the best education and the five of them could go on so many wonderful vacations. In the 1980s, after her children were fully grown and while she was still working full-time during the day, Louise went back to school at night at Albertus Magnus College and received an Associate's degree. Her husband and sons beamed with pride for their mother on the day she graduated. A seasoned world traveler, Louise was able to visit so many countries and meet so many wonderful people around the world with her husband, whom she loved and adored, both before and after their retirement. Louise also enjoyed many vacations with family and friends and looked forward to visiting her sons in Washington and Michigan. Louise had a passion for the "Five F's," which were: (1) her FAMILY, who she loved, adored and cared for with all her heart and soul; (2) her FRIENDS, with whom she was able to share in so many good times and create wonderful memories; (3) her deep, abiding and unshakeable FAITH in God, which sustained her during good and bad times throughout her life; (4) good, home cooked Italian FOOD, which she lovingly prepared, baked and served at her house for her family and friends during hundreds of family gatherings, parties and holidays; and (5) FUN, which she viewed as an essential ingredient for having a long and happy life. Louise was the personification of selfless giving. Whether it was volunteering at her home parish of St. Francis Catholic Church in New Haven or spending many wonderful summers over 40-plus years up in Liberty, Maine helping at summer camp with Boy Scout Troop 401 of East Haven CT, she was always willing to lend her time, talents and treasure wherever she saw a need and to whoever needed help. Upon retirement, Louise remained active by volunteering at St. Francis Grammar School, where she taught English to new immigrant students from South and Central America. Her students fondly and affectionately called her "Miss Louise." For the last 15 years of her life, she would go to CVS and Walgreens the day after Christmas and buy hundreds of marked-down stuffed animals, put them in bags to be stored in her attic for an entire year, and then donate them all to Toys for Tots the next Christmas. She believed in the saying: "Do all you can with what you have in the time you have in the place you are." Louise had the rare and unique ability ("gift") to make everyone she met and talked to feel like they were the most important person in the world. Consequently, people naturally gravitated to her. Louise lived a full and beautiful life with no regrets and a heart full of gratitude and thanks to God for all that He had blessed her with. She will be missed dearly by all her family and friends who had so much love and affection for her. Those who knew and loved her consider themselves blessed and fortunate to have had the privilege of knowing such a "beautiful soul." She will never be forgotten and always in their hearts. Louise's family wishes to extend their sincere gratitude and appreciation to all the kind and caring doctors, nurses and healthcare workers at Yale New Haven Hospital and various Rehab Facilities who worked so hard to help Louise during her illness. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to BSA Troop, 401 Memorial Fund, 352 Townsend Ave., New Haven, CT 06512 or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.
Visiting hours will be held at the Iovanne Funeral Home located at 11 Wooster Place, New Haven, CT 06511 on Friday, June 25, 2021 from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, June 26, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Michael's Church located at 29 Wooster Place, New Haven, CT 06511. Burial will follow at All Saints Cemetery located at 700 Middletown Ave., North Haven, CT 06473. For directions and an online memorial, please visit www.iovanne.com.