Obituary of MARIGRACE R. SABATO

Marigrace R. (Franchina) Sabato, 80, of Stamford, wife of the late Austin F. Sabato, passed away peacefully on January 17, 2014. Marigrace was born in Stamford on May 10, 1933 and wasa lifelong resident. She wasraised in love by her parents, the late Margaret and Joseph Franchina. Marigrace graduated from the Stamford Hospital School of Nursing in 1953. She had an accomplished career. She worked at both Stamford and St. Joseph's Hospitals for many years. She was also employed as a Healthcare Sales Representative for Staff Builders, Inc. In her later years, she worked in the private healthcare sector as a registered nurse for a cardiologist and internist until her retirement in the mid 1990's. Marigrace was passionate about education, and became actively involved in local school politics as an advocate of quality public education. She was a member of the St. Leo's Social Concerns Committee. Marigrace enjoyed spending quality time with her children and grandchildren and was very fond of her sons-in-law. She loved to read and be educated in national and world events, and loved to cook for her family. She lived her life with integrity and kindness. She was a devoted daughter and cared for her parents in their elder years. She was an active member of the Catholic Church. She will be missed by her family and friends. Marigrace is survived by her four loving daughters, Margaret Nemchek and her husband Peter, Marilyn Pellegrini and her husband Robert, Mary Ellen Stella and her husband Umberto, Anne Marie Leggett and her husband John, her brothers Joseph Franchina and wife Clara and and Phillip Franchina and his wife Donna and sisters, Patricia Long and Rose Marie Raiti as well as seven grandchildren, Nicholas and Christopher Pellegrini, Travis, Dante and Christian Stella and Lauren and Jason Leggett. She is also survived by several nieces and nephews, and her sisters-in-law Josephine Colangeloand Terry Canale and her husband Tony. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, January 24, 2014 at 10:00 AM at St. Leo's Church, 24 Roxbury Road, Stamford, CT. Entombment will follow at St. John RC Cemetery, Darien, CT. Family and friends may call at the Lacerenza Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 8 Schuyler Avenue, Stamford, CT on Thursday, January 23, 2014 from 4-8 PM. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory can be made to the Alzheimer's Foundation of America, 322 Eighth Avenue, 7th Floor, New York, 10001. To offer online condolence, please visit www.lacerenzafuneralhome.com