September 14, 1932 to June 5, 2021

It is with great sadness that the family of Madeline D’Arco Cohen announces her passing. Madeline passed away peacefully in her sleep, at her home in Sandy Hook, on June 5.

Born Maddalena Spennato on September 14, 1932, in Ischia, Naples, Italy, she was the youngest of four siblings. She lived in Ischia with her mother, Francesca, and her brothers and sister, until immigrating to the United States with her family in 1947 to join her father. She lived and attended school in Norwalk, Conn., until she was 16 years old. She then began working with her sister at a local dress factory.

In June of 1952, Madeline married Anthony D’Arco and had four children. She became a United States citizen in 1977. Madeline was a wonderful cook and enjoyed gardening throughout her life, as well as playing golf. Known affectionately to her sister as “Patanella,” which means “little potato” in their dialect, she was fair and petite at barely five feet tall. Madeline had an exceptional sense of style at every stage of her life and took great care and pride in her appearance. Upon moving to Sandy Hook in 2003, Madeline became a parishioner at St Rose of Lima Church in Newtown, where she later became a Eucharistic Minister. Above all else, Madeline loved being with her family. She was ardently dedicated to raising and caring for her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren and beamed with pride whenever she would mention them.

Madeline will be lovingly remembered by her four children, Catherine Mariconda, Michael (Christine) D’Arco, Francine D’Arco (Peter House), and Anthony (Erin) D’Arco. She will also be cherished and missed by her ten grandchildren, Gerard (Jamie) Mariconda, Michael (Amanda) Mariconda, Paul (Liz), Jackie (Christian) Chiera, James Sheehy, Nicholas Sheehy, Nicole D’Arco, Maria D’Arco, Michael D’Arco, Jr, and Madeline D’Arco; great-grandchildren, Isabella Mariconda, Rebecca Mariconda, Anthony Mariconda, Lily Mariconda, Ezra Mariconda, Jayce Sheehy, and Carmelo Chiera; her loving, devoted companion, Len Spinozza; and her nieces and nephews.

Madeline was predeceased by her parents, Alfonso and Francesca Spennato; her brothers, Ralph and Peter Spennato; and her sister, Maria Buono.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in St Rose of Lima Church, 46 Church Hill Road, on Thursday, June 10, at 10:30 am. Entombment will follow at Rose Hills Memorial Park, Heritage Garden Mausoleum, in Putnam Valley, New York. Friends may call at the Honan Funeral Home, 58 Main Street, Newtown on Wednesday, June 9, from 4 to 7 pm.

In lieu of flowers, consider making a donation to the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation at pulmonaryfibrosis.org/ways-to-give/donate-now or to Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN), 5817 Old Leeds Road, Irondale AL 35210-2164; ewtn.org/donate.