Sophie C. Squillace

Sophie C. (Gass) Squillace, age 90, passed away peacefully, surrounded by her family on Sunday, June 15, 2025 at Hartford Hospital. She was the loving wife of Paul Squillace. Born on September 9, 1934, in Waterbury, Sophie was the daughter of the late Irving and Rose (Vignali) Gass, Jr. She was a graduate of Wilby High School. Sophie was a longtime parishioner of St. Michael's Church, where she was a member of the Ladies Guild. After raising her eight children, Sophie went to work as a baker at Stop & Shop on Chase Avenue in Waterbury where she worked for over 20 years until her retirement. A fabulous baker, every holiday and birthday came with a cake made by Sophie. A talented seamstress, Sophie made clothes for her children and created crafts sold at the St. Michael's Church Christmas bazaar. Above all, Sophie was a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother. The Matriarch of her family, Sophie was the epitome of "Unconditional Love". She was the center of her family's world and held her large family together. Fiercely loyal, she accepted and supported everyone. In addition to Paul, her beloved husband of 69 ½ years, Sophie is survived by her children Vincent Squillace and his wife Kim, Joseph Squillace and his wife Jen, David Squillace, and Mary Bennett and her husband Pete Daddona; her daughter-in-law Edith Squillace; her beloved grandchildren Alyssa R. Izzo, Vincent Sapone and his wife Emma, Connie Rowland and her husband Peter, Luis Ocasio, Cristy DiBiase and her husband Brian, Carrie Rose and her husband Karl, Joseph Squillace, Jr., Lianna Squillace, Miranda Squillace, Julia Novotny and her husband Greg, Allen Ferrer and his wife Lorraine, and Marjorie Nuball. She also leaves her great-grandchildren Jeana, Evie, Lucy, Joseph, Sophie, Ethan, Liam, Lauren, Amelia, EJ, and John Francis; her sister Maria Desaulniers and her husband Ronald; her sisters-in-law Barbara Gass and Mary Delano; and her brothers-in-law Domenic Squillace and Paul Morrissey; as well as several generations of nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her children Paul Squillace, John E. Squillace, Evelyn Ryals, and Anthony Squillace; her brothers Irving Gass, Jr., Anthony Gass, and Ronald Gass and her sisters Concetta "Teena" Jolly and Henrietta Morrissey. Sophie's funeral will be held on Friday, June 20, 2025 at 9:00am from Maiorano Funeral Home, 95 Willow St., Waterbury to St. Michael's Church for a Mass at 10:00am. Burial will be private. Calling hours will be held on Thursday evening from 5:00-7:00pm at the funeral home. To sign the online guestbook, or to leave online condolences for the family, please visit www.maioranofuneralhome.com.