Obituary of Gertrude M. D'Elia

Resident of Shelton Gertrude Santillo DElia, age 89, of Shelton, beloved wife of Ernest F. DElia for 57 years, passed away on Monday, June 18, 2012 in Griffin Hospital surrounded by her loving family. Born in Bridgeport on May 26, 1923, she was a daughter of the late Joseph and Josephine Stoccatore Santillo. She attended Walterville School, where she skipped the seventh grade and graduated from Harding High School and the Booth and Bayliss Business School. Gertrude worked for Skydels department store for 25 years, where she served as a credit manager for 15 years; at General Electric from 1975 to 1988 in the insurance and accounting departments and at the First Slovak Wreath Free Eagle Society from 1990 to 1993. Mrs. DElia held positions with many organizations, including treasurer of the Bridgeport Retail Credit Bureau, president of Beta Sigma Phi, where she served as a member for over 50 years, and the Ceramic Guild president. She was also a volunteer for the American Heart Association from 1965 to 1970, and a member of AARP for 30 years, where she held the offices of president, first vice president, second vice president and recording secretary. Mrs. DElia served on the Stratford YMCA Pledge Committee, Council of Catholic Women, the Greek Catholic Union U.P.A., Queens Daughters, Shelton Senior Center, and was very active in the Linus Project at Holy Name Church, where she knitted afghans for children. She was also active in the Avco Retirees Club, the Huntington Chapter of AARP, and the Retired Seniors Volunteer Program (R.S.V.P.), where she received an award for having the highest female volunteer hours (1,537), and in 2004 received the Presidential Volunteer Gold and Silver Awards and pin for over 1,000 volunteered hours. She was pre-deceased by a son, David DElia. In addition to her husband, survivors include a brother, Joseph Santillo and his wife Sue of Shelton, a sister, Gloria Ebmeyer of Bridgeport, nieces, Carla Ebmeyer Bobko and her husband, Nicholas Bobko, Jr., Lynn Santillo, Andrea Santillo and Coree Santillo as well as several additional nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews. Funeral Information Funeral services will take place on Friday, June 22, 2012 at 9:00 a.m. in the Abriola Parkview Funeral Home, 419 White Plains Road, Trumbull, and at 10:00 a.m. in St. Margaret Mary Church, Shelton for a Mass of Christian Burial. Interment will follow in St. Michael Cemetery, Stratford. Relatives and friends may call on Thursday from 4 to 8 p.m.