Judith Amelia (Carosella) Pesce passed away peacefully on Saturday, February 22, 2026, after a brief but courageous battle with cancer.

Born on June 23, 1942, in Waterbury, Judy was the youngest of three children of Ernest and Amelia (Ricciuti). From an early age, family was at the center of her life. She grew up alongside her brother, Ernest, and her sister, Lea (Goldberg), in a close-knit Italian-American household filled with aunts, uncles, cousins, and cherished traditions.

Judy attended Waterbury schools and graduated from Waterbury Catholic High School before enrolling at Western Connecticut State University to pursue a career in teaching. It was there that she met her future husband, Richard M. Pesce. They married in August 1964, beginning a devoted partnership that would span more than six decades. Together, they settled in Newtown, where they built their lives, began their teaching careers, and raised their two children, Richard and Cristina.

Judy taught second grade at both Hawley School and Sandy Hook School in Newtown, taking time away to raise her children before returning to education and later serving as assistant principal at Hawley. Over the course of her career, she touched the lives of generations of students. She took great joy in nurturing their growth and took even greater pride in watching them flourish long after they left her classroom.

Beyond her work in education, Judy was a woman of many talents and passions. She played the violin, painted, made pottery, wrote poetry, and found great joy in gardening — each a reflection of her creativity and appreciation for beauty.

After retiring, Judy and Rich left their beloved hometown of Newtown for the sandy dunes and salty air of Cape Cod, settling in Eastham. There, she continued to expand her interests, joining the Cape Cod Chorale, a community chorus dedicated to celebrating choral music and supporting scholarships for students pursuing careers in music.

Judy remained deeply committed to serving others. She volunteered for many years with Nauset Neighbors, an organization supporting Cape Cod seniors, and with Meals on Wheels, where those along her route came to know her not just as a volunteer, but as a friend. She had a gift for making people feel cared for and steady, even when she was the one carrying the weight. That was her superpower.

At the heart of Judy’s life were her three grandchildren, who brought her endless pride and joy. As “Gamma,” she formed a special and lasting bond with each of them — a connection that will endure.

Judy was predeceased by the love of her life, Rich; her parents; and her sister, Lea, and brother-in-law, Louis.

She is survived by her brother, Ernest and sister-in-law, Margie; her son, Rich, and daughter-in-law, Mylene; her daughter, Cristina; and her three beloved grandchildren: Nicholas (son of Rich and Mylene), and William, and Isabella (children of Cristina). She is also survived by her sister-in-law, Barbara, as well as a large extended family of nieces and nephews who adored their Aunt Judy and shared with her a lifetime of love, laughter, and treasured memories.

A memorial service celebrating Judy and her beloved husband Rich and their lives will be held on June 20, 10:30 am, at St Rose of Lima Church in Newtown. in lieu of flowers, the family kindly asks that donations be made in Judy’s memory to organizations supporting Cape Cod Chorale or Meals on Wheels America.