Obituary of Rose J. Cella

Stratford Resident Rose J. Soda Cella, of Stratford, passed away Saturday, February 23, 2013 at the Apple Rehabilitation Center at Shelton Lakes in Shelton, where she had been in hospice care for the past several weeks. She was 100; and died just a few days shy of her 101st on Feb. 27. Born in Bridgeport, she was the daughter of the late Salvatore Soda and Filomena Paternoster Soda. She was predeceased by all her siblings: Emil, Louis and Michael Soda; and Marie Soda Fressola and Madeline Soda Boros. She was the widow of Frank Cella, a former master pressman for the then-Bridgeport Post and Telegram. Although she had no children, she was devoted to her nieces and nephews, and for many years reveled in her role as family matriarch. An enormously spirited woman, who enjoyed making others laugh, Mrs. Cella found great joy in cooking, often preparing her Italian specialties for family on Sunday afternoons at her Stratford condominium, where she lived independently until a few months ago. She loved to tell stories about her early years, as well as her marriage at age 19 to Frank Cella. In February of 2012, she was feted at a 100th birthday party, attended by friends and relatives from throughout the Northeast. The event (and greeting from Pope Benedict XVI) proved to be a highlight for her; she socialized, ate heartily and spoke at length with each of her many guests. A subsequent article on the event in the Connecticut Post made her beam with pride. At her bedside in recent weeks were some of her many nieces and nephews including Arthur Fressola of Shelton (and wife Sandra) and Robert Fressola (and wife Rosanne) of Stratford; and Phyllis Ann Soda Boros (and husband David W. Keyes), of Bridgeport; and Lisa Fern-Boros, of Huntington, the widow of nephew Lance R. Boros, who died suddenly in late February 2011. She is survived by numerous other nieces and nephews, as well as several great-nieces and great-nephews, and great-great nieces and nephews. Funeral Information Calling hours are Tuesday, February 26, 2013, from 3-7 p.m. at the Abriola Parkview Funeral Home, 419 White Plains Road, Trumbull. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday at 11:00 a.m. at Our Lady of Grace Church, Second Hill Lane in Stratford. Burial will follow at St. Michael's Cemetery in Stratford.