Norma (Fossi) Contessa, 94, of Newtown, a native of Ridgefield, wife of the late Joseph R. Contessa, died on Sunday, July 3, 2022, at her home.
Norma was born in Danbury, March 7, 1928, a daughter of the late Domenic and Ida (Montanari) Fossi. Raised on a working farm in Ridgefield, she was active in the community for over 60 years. Norma was working in town at Fossi’s Famous Footwear when she met her future husband, Joseph Contessa. He came to Ridgefield from New York to help his Uncle Matty at his shop, Contessa Yarns. What was expected to be a short visit turned in to a lifetime once he laid eyes on Norma Fossi. They were married in 1952 and remained so until his death in 1991.
Norma was a volunteer for the American Red Cross, Regional Hospice, Ridgefield Boys and Girls Club, and for twenty-five years, served as the head of the St. Mary Church Alter Guild. She was a devoted mother who could always be seen in the stands at a game, was a volunteer at the schools, a religious education instructor and was actively involved with Southbury Training School where her son Vincent resided for many years. Norma was also a loving grandmother who was an active participant in her grandchildren’s lives. She especially loved to think of April Fools’ jokes to play on them and they looked forward with anticipation each year to see what Grams had in store. She had a terrific sense of humor, and her joy and laughter were infectious. She was a gracious hostess who always welcomed friends and family in her home and at her table.
Norma is survived by her children, Elizabeth Preville, Jay (Denise) Contessa, Mary Matthews and Carol Contessa, a brother Thomas (Jinny) Fossi and a sister-in-law Eileen Gorman, eight grandchildren, Elizabeth Wurms, Katharine (Thomas) Szeker, Lauren Preville, Christina (Christopher Lieberman) Preville, Valerie (Michael) Gaudio, Kristen Contessa, JJ (Brittany) Contessa, Connor Matthews, and a great grandchild Joseph Contessa IV as well as many nieces and nephews. In addition to her husband and parents, she was predeceased by her son Vincent, her two sisters and their spouses Dorothy & Paul Marconi and Elsie & Norman Craig and three brothers and their spouses Robert & Jean Fossi, Louis & Ann Fossi, John & Patricia Fossi as well as in-laws Hyacinth & Arthur Sheehan and Bernard Gorman.
Norma’s family would like to thank the caregivers from RVNAhealth and the many friends and family that reached out to her in the past several months to check in and share some laughs.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday, July 12, 2022, at 10:00 a.m. in St. Mary Parish, 55 Catoonah Street, Ridgefield. Interment will follow in St. Mary Cemetery. The family will receive friends and relatives in the Kane Funeral Home, 25 Catoonah Street, Ridgefield on Monday, July 11, 2022, from 4 to 8 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in her memory may be made to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation – CT Chapter, 101 CenterPoint Drive, Middletown, CT 0457, The Ridgefield Lions Club, P.O. Box 77, Ridgefield, CT or the RVNAhealth, Attn: Development Office, 27 Governor Street, Ridgefield, CT 06877.
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