Claudia Ilya Di Giovanni Hudson

Claudia Ilya di Giovanni Hudson
July 17, 1936 – February 5, 2025
Claudia Hudson of Essex, CT, passed away on February 5th after a brief illness. Claudia was a longtime resident of Cheshire, CT, where she taught in the Cheshire and Southington school systems as an elementary grade teacher. Claudia was born and raised in Newton, MA, the daughter of Leo di Giovanni and Perina (Fontecchio) di Giovanni. She was predeceased by her husband of 57 years, David J. Hudson, as well as by her brother Norman Thomas Di Giovanni. Claudia is survived by her two nephews, Derek and Thomas di Giovanni, their spouses, Jen and Amanda, and 5 grandnieces and nephews.
Claudia and David also had two adopted families, Irene Flugard (Dec'd, formerly of Southington, CT), her two children and two grandchildren, in addition to longtime neighbors and friends, Kevin and Marianne Lawlor and their 4 daughters.
As noted earlier, Claudia was an elementary school teacher for over 30 years. She began teaching in Newton, MA after earning her degree, but continued her teaching career in Connecticut after marrying her husband David. She was a devoted educator and was once honored as Teacher of the Year by the Southington School System. Claudia well understood the role of parents in her students' education, and also strove to provide context for her classwork in terms of world events and society beyond the small towns where her teaching occurred.
Claudia was a devoted lifelong reader of a broad variety of literature, from the classics, to historical fiction, to the works of more contemporary authors. Claudia was born into a literary family. Her father was well-read and a self-made student of history and politics. Claudia's brother Norman was a world-famous author, also known for his translations of the works of Jorge Luis Borges. Claudia had more modest ambitions but belonged to a number of book clubs and helped staff the used book store at the Southington Public Library. The dual purpose of her work at the library was to bring the joy of books to new readers, as well as to raise funds for the library to expand its own collection of books.
Claudia and husband David were accomplished world travelers, saving up throughout the year to enable them to embark on a decades-long series of cruises that took them to all 7 continents. These included 2 excursions to Antarctica, riding camels amongst the Eqyptian pyramids, kayaking at the Galapogos, and 3 instances where they ventured north of the Arctic Circle in both Greenland and Scandinavia.
Humble and modest in stature, Claudia was larger than life when it came to her devotion to friends and family. She was always wise beyond her years, as a student of history, politics, human nature and the world at large. Claudia touched the lives of many throughout her life, but especially those who could say that they knew her well. Hers was a life well-lived and we are all the better for it.
Friends and family are invited to celebrate Claudia's life at a ceremony to be held at the Centerbrook Cemetery, Westbrook Road in Centerbrook (Essex), CT at 1:30 p.m. on May 2nd, 2025. In lieu of flowers, donations to The New York Public Library, The International Red Cross, or The Metropolitan Opera may be made in Claudia and David's memory. To share a memory of Claudia, please visit www.rwwh.com
The Robinson, Wright & Weymer Funeral Home in Centerbrook is in care of the arrangements.