Veronica Pacilio

Veronica Kennedy Pacilio, 61, of Saw Pit Hill Road, Woodbury, died January 28 at home after a long battle with pancreatic cancer. She was the wife of Frank A. Pacilio, Sr, for 43 years.

Besides her husband, she leaves a daughter, Mary Pacilio Haggerty of Sandy Hook; two sons, John M. Pacilio of Ketchum, Idaho, and Frank A. Pacilio, Jr of Southbury, and five grandchildren.

Mrs Pacilio was born on July 9, 1942, daughter of the late Josephine (Smith) and Gregory Kennedy of Washington, D.C. She was raised by her maternal grandmother, Bridgit Smith, in Brooklyn, N.Y.

She was a graduate of Mepham High School in North Bellmore, N.Y. and St Mary’s Hospital School of Nursing in Waterbury. Mrs Pacilio worked as a registered cardiac care nurse at MidState Medical Center in Meriden from 1992 until the onset of her illness three years ago.

A 33-year resident of Woodbury, Mrs Pacilio was active in community and volunteer activities. She served as an Emergency Medical Technician for the Woodbury Ambulance Association for more than ten years.

She was a communicant of St Teresa Church, Woodbury, where she was involved in the formation of a cancer support group and a parish nurse ministry.

Even prior to her own diagnosis, Mrs Pacilio worked for cancer funding through participation in the Breast Cancer Three-Day Walk benefiting the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. After months of training, she successfully completed a 60-mile walk to New York City in 1999 and participated in the walk to Boston in 2001. She was an inspirational speaker for the Relay for Life, an event designed to celebrate survivorship and raise money for research by the American Cancer Society.

A funeral service is scheduled for 10 am, Saturday, January 31, at St Teresa Church, Woodbury. Calling hours are Friday, January 30, from 4 to 7 pm at Munson-Lovetere Funeral Home, Main Street South, Woodbury.

Contributions may be made to The Lustgarten Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer Research, 1111 Stewart Avenue, Bethpage NY 11714, or The Children of Light, c/o Saint Teresa Church, Woodbury CT 06798. Mrs Pacilio requested that individuals write their local congressional representatives to request increased funding for the National Cancer Institute.

The Newtown Bee        January 30, 2004