Maureen Isabell Velardo

Rene is survived by her children Elisa Velardo and her husband Tom Simon of Tolland Ct, Nick Velardo and his wife Michele of Palm Beach Gardens Fl, and Maureen Healy (Velardo) and her husband Ken of Torrington Ct. Grand Children Jacob, Alexandra and Lilah Simon, Nicholas and Anthony Velardo, Alyssa Staton and her husband Al, John Russell, Josh, Giuliana, Lucas, Logan and Noah Healy. Great Grand Children Savannah, Chesney and Ella Staton. Nieces and Nephews Rob and Stephanie Thomas, Patty Thomas, Andy Perock, Patty and Jim Orsatti and their daughter Sarah, Cindy and Ronald Kielb and their children Corey, Ronald and Shelly, Joann Gaug and her son Kristopher and her beloved Cousins and Dear Friends.

Rene was born on 3/24/39 in Naugatuck Ct to Earl and Florence White. She had two wonderful sisters Patricia Thomas and Charlotte Perock. She graduated from Naugatuck High School in 1957 where she just attended her 60th reunion.

When Rene was a child her family had a country band called the Wandering Buckaroos and were one of the first bands to play on their local radio station WWCO in Waterbury Ct. Her life was filled with music and at family gatherings every member of her family either played an instrument or sang. She carried this love of music throughout her life.

Rene spent many years as a waitress working at the famous Actors Colony in Seymour Ct serving notable people such as Tony Bennett, Tom Jones, Frankie Avalon, Sarah Vaughn and Jerry Vale. She also worked at the Iconic Italian restaurant Bacco’s in Waterbury Ct which has been in operation for over 86 years. Rene later went on to work in customer service at F&S Oil Company in Waterbury Ct where her greatest joy was to help customers receive assistance who were having difficulty with fuel costs. She personally saw to it that the elderly and anyone in need never went into the winter months without heating oil. Rene always considered one of her greatest achievements to be when she lead an effort in the 1970;s to save Barnard Elementary School in Waterbury Ct where her children attended. The school was scheduled to be closed and she was told there was no hope and that it was a lost cause but she prevailed in a grass roots effort. The Barnard School stayed open for the next 40 years. She was known for her sense of humor and warm heart and everyone that knew her loved her. Maureen attended church at The Light of the Palm Beaches in West Palm Beach.

A Memorial Service is scheduled from 1:30pm-3:30pm on Sunday October 1, 2017 at Quattlebaum Funeral, Cremation and Event Center at 5411 Okeechobee Blvd, West Palm Beach Fl. Pastor Doug Yeargin will officiate the ceremony. All are welcome to come celebrate Rene’s wonderful life. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to The Light of the Palm Beaches, Pastor Doug Yeargin, 7035 High Sierra Circle, West Palm Beach Fl, 33411.

ngements under the direction of Quattlebaum Funeral, Cremation and Event Center, West Palm Beach, FL.