Obituary of Dorothea B. Paoletta

Dorothea B. Reiner Paoletta, age 82, of Easton, beloved wife of Leonard S. Paoletta, passed away at home on Tuesday, August 14, 2018 with her beloved family by her side. Born in Bergenfield, NJ on January 21, 1936, she was a daughter of the late Samuel T. and Dorothy Gawenus Reiner.

She earned her undergraduate degree from Montclair State Teacher's College and her Masters' degree from the University of Bridgeport. An accomplished educator, she taught for two years in Stratford Public Schools and 20 years in Westport. She was actively involved in literacy during her tenure as the "First Lady of Bridgeport" from 1981-1985. She enjoyed a lifetime of baking and cooking and was famous for her cheesecake and apple pie. Following her retirement, her life revolved around her grandchildren. She welcomed the family for her well known Sunday dinners where the focus was on good food, tradition and love of one another.

In addition to her husband of 59 years, former Bridgeport Mayor Leonard S. Paoletta, survivors include her children, Gianine Craw and her husband David of Monroe, Leonard S. Paoletta Jr. and his wife Debbie of Abington, MA, T. J. Paoletta and his wife Linda of Fairfield and Dea Auray and her husband Tom of Easton, a brother, S. Theodore Reiner and his wife Anne of Sarasota, FL, 13 grandchildren, Davis, Victoria and Haley Craw, Leonard S. Paoletta III, Chloe Paoletta, Nicholas, Biagio, Marco, Luciano and Giuliano Paoletta, Sam, Jack and Mia Auray, as well as many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by an infant sister, Dorothea Reiner.

Friends are invited to meet directly in St. Margaret's Shrine, 2523 Park Ave., Bridgeport, on Saturday, August 18, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. for a Mass of Christian Burial. Interment will follow in St. Michael Cemetery, Stratford. Family and friends may call on Friday from 4-8 p.m. at The Abriola Parkview Funeral Home, 419 White Plains Road, Trumbull.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Woofgang and Co., 2490 Black Rock Turnpike, Fairfield, CT 06825 or the American Cancer Society, 30 Speen St., Framingham, MA 01701.