Catherine T. Michetti

Catherine “Kay” Michetti, of Ridgefield, died peacefully on Thursday, April 27, 2023 at the age of 97.

Her loving husband, Angelo A. Michetti and loving daughter, Sarah Newby, predeceased her. Kay is survived by her two daughters and their families; Linda, Steve, Steven & Michael Kazlauskas and Kathy, Taylor Kazlauskas, Alan, Adam, Douglas & Gregory Pakiela (& daughters-in-law Brooke, Annie, Jen, Amy & Lisa) as well as, Craig, Keith, Charlie (& daughters-in-law Sandy, Kim & Caitlin), Linda & Angela Newby and 17 great grandchildren. Last but not least, her adopted & beloved Werner family Dottie, Louie, Kenny, Kerri & Noelle also survive her.

Kay was born in Brooklyn, NY on April 26,1926, daughter of Lillian & Nick DeFabio. Kay was predeceased by her brother Angelo DiGiacamo. In 1944 she met Angelo Michetti; as she often said, “he was the best thing in my life”, “when you’ve got the best, forget the rest!” Angelo served in the Navy on the aircraft carrier, USS Ranger during WWII. They married 1945 and moved to Ozone Park, NY in 1951 with a four year old daughter and newborn twins, where they lived for 42 years. Angelo worked for the NYC Transit Authority and Kay worked at Crib Diaper Service as their top salesperson.

In 1994 they finally decided, with Linda & her family, to move to Ridgefield, to be closer to Kathy, where Kay’s love affair with Ridgefield began. After Angelo passed in 2002 Kay decided to pay it forward. She started volunteering at St. Mary’s adoration chapel weekly and Meals on Wheels where she made the most amazing friends. She also started working at Kohl’s when she was 80! Her nickname was ‘The Queen of Kohl’s’.” At 90 she finally retired from Kohl’s but missed her customers so much and they missed her. 

Also known as “Sunshine”, she made everyone feel good by complimenting them to brighten their day. Another favorite quote of hers was, “if you don’t have anything good to say, don’t say anything at all!”

In October of 2015, Ridgefield’s Hamlet Hub did their first segment of ‘Ridgefield’s Unsung Heroes’ featuring Kay Michetti: A Brooklyn Girl Who Fell in Love with Ridgefield. Kay not only loved to cook but loved to eat macaroni at her favorite restaurant, Venice (with tons of extra sauce!) and of course, Genoa Deli with Della, Rocco & Savario. She would even bring Rudy Marconi her homemade Eggplant Parmesan. Every Memorial Day Parade she would be waving her flag in front of The Elms and cheering on our Veterans and of course her grandson Michael, as the Ridgefield Volunteer Fire Department marched by.

To quote Megan Carey from Hamlet Hub, “Kay, a Brooklyn girl at heart, has carried her NY accent all the way to CT.  It is with all the sincerity in her heart that she gives out her friendly compliments to anyone and everyone.”  She will be greatly missed by us all.

Family and friends will be received on Monday, May 1, 2023 from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Kane Funeral Home; 25 Catoonah Street, Ridgefield. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday, May 2, 2023 at 10:00 AM at St. Mary's Church; 55 Catoonah Street, Ridgefield. Interment will follow in St. Mary's Cemetery; 110 North Street, Ridgefield.

Contributions in Mrs. Michetti's memory may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital or Meals on Wheels of Ridgefield.

To read the Hamlet Hub article on Mrs. Michetti which is mentioned in the obituary above, please use the link here: (Credit, Megan Carey - Ridgefield's Hamlet Hub; October 23, 2015) https://news.hamlethub.com/ridgefield/neighbors/49662-kay-michetti-a-brooklyn-girl-who-fell-in-love-with-ridgefield

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