Lydia Veronica (Branciforte) Cannata

     Lydia Branciforte Cannata, 100, passed away on Friday, May 4, 2018 surrounded by her family at Pilgrim Manor in Cromwell . She was the loving wife of Sebastian (Mickey) Cannata for 68 years until his death in 2009. She was born to Antonio and Rose (Liseo) Branciforte on February 20, 1918 and was one of seven children.

     Lydia lived in Cromwell nearly all of her life. She married Mickey Cannata in 1941 and worked with her husband to accomplish their lifelong dream as restaurateurs and innkeepers. They developed and managed the Lord Cromwell Motor Inn and The Knights Inn in Cromwell. Lydia was a founding member of the Ladies Auxiliary of the Italian American Club, a director of Farmers and Mechanics Savings Bank, a member of the Connecticut Restaurant Association, and the Connecticut Hotel and Motel Association. Lydia and Mickey operated their business in Cromwell until they retired in 1983.

     Lydia spent her retirement summers in Clinton, Connecticut and wintered in Jupiter, Florida. She loved family picnics, golfing and spending time with her grandchildren at the beach. Lydia was an accomplished seamstress and took great pride in sewing all of her daughters' clothing. One of Lydia's favorite holidays was Mother's Day and on that day, she always hosted a family dinner. The Friday before Mother's Day, she attended Grandparent's Day at the Independent Day School in Middlefield with her granddaughters.  

     Lydia is survived by her three children; Suzanne Rutner and her husband Alan, Rosemarie Mondani and her husband Donald, and Michael Cannata and his fiancée April Hudyma, all of Cromwell, and her beloved grandchildren Amy Bunton (Stuart), Tracy Gayeski, Lisa Mondani, and Lynne Pierce (Ryan). She also leaves four great grandsons, Alejandro, Luca, Craig and Sawyer; her sister, Pandora Skubel of Boynton Beach, Florida and many nieces and nephews.

     Along with her husband and parents, Lydia was predeceased by her siblings, Carmelo Branciforte, Clara Lombardo, Sebastian (Yonnie) Branciforte, John Branciforte, and Helen Signorelli.

     The family wishes to extend their sincere thanks and gratitude for the wonderful care and compassion she received from the staff at Pilgrim Manor in Cromwell.

     A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday, May 8 at 11:00 a.m. at St. John Church in Cromwell. Interment will follow in the family plot at St. Sebastian's Cemetery in Middlefield. 

     Family and friends may call on Tuesday morning from 9:00 to 10:30 am at the Cromwell Funeral Home, 506 Main Street, Cromwell. In lieu of flowers, donations in Lydia's memory may be made to Saint John Church, 5 St. John Court, Cromwell, CT 06416. To share memories or send condolences to the family, please visit www.doolittlefuneralservice.com.

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