Rita J. Molgano

Rita J. Molgano, 94, of Stamford, CT passed peacefully into Eternal Life on Monday, September 8, 2025 at the Stamford Care Center in Stamford, CT. Born Rita Jean Gabriele in Stamford on July 4, 1931, Rita attended school at Belltown, Burdick and Stamford High. Employment took her first to the Florence Dress Shop across from St. John’s Park in Stamford. She then began her longstanding career in food services working for her brother Richard Gabriele at Richard’s in New Canaan, CT. From there, Rita and her husband Louis went on to establish the well-renowned luncheonette in New Canaan, LOU’S KITCHEN. Rita and Lou served the great people of New Canaan for 38 years, closing their business in June, 2008.

Mom, Grandma, Great-Grandma epitomized the selfless act of always putting others first. When our maternal grandmother passed, Mom became the matriarch, hosting all the holidays, at which all were welcome. Even customers from Lou’s Kitchen would be at our table for many of them. All the favorite Italian dishes our grandmother had made continued in Mom’s kitchen for many years later.

Mom’s selflessness did not stop at her home and business. She, in complete partnership with her husband Lou, gave even more in service to our Lord and His Church, gifting time, talent and treasure to various events at St. Bridget of Ireland Church, among those that include Monday Night Bingo, Senior Citizen Dinners, dinner-dances at Belltown Firehouse, Parish picnics, pancake breakfasts and three St. Bridget Carnivals.

Mom’s greatest love was her family, which was firmly rooted in nearly 68 years of marriage to Dad. As Eugene so beautifully wrote: “She loved her grandchildren and her great-grandchildren. A wonderful wife [and] mother.” There is nothing she wouldn’t do for us!

Rita was predeceased by her parents Luigi and Mary Gabriele, sister Pauline Valentine and husband Louis, sister Helen Montecalvo and husband Michael, and her brother Louis Gabriele, Jr. and wife Mary. She was also predeceased by her father-in-law James and wife Mary; her husband Lou’s brothers Michael and wife Gaetina, Frank and wife Elvira, James and wife Theresa, Amedeo and wife Rita, Samy, Richard; her husband Lou’s sisters Josephine Garufi and husband Michael, Katherine Billone and husband Joseph George and Mary Biondello and husband Frank. Rita was predeceased as well by her grandson Thomas Michael Molgano. Rita is survived by her husband Louis, her sons Michael and Eugene (AnnMarie Pellini), grandson Jeffrey (Nicole) and their children Thomas and Gianna, and her grandson Richard. She is also survived by her husband Lou’s sisters-in-law Marie Molgano (Samy), Paula Molgano (Richard) and Judith Biondello (Frank). Rita is survived by numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.

Faith and hope in our Lord Jesus Christ is what Mom’s life exemplified. It is no wonder her life was changed but not ended on the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary and she will be put to her final rest on the Memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows.

A special thank you to the professional staff at Stamford Hospital and Stamford Care Center for providing aid and comfort to Mom during her last eleven days of being a wonderful wife, wonderful mom, wonderful grandma and great-grandma, being a WONDERFUL LADY IN EVERY SENSE OF THE WORD.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 11am, Monday, September 15th at St. Bridget of Ireland Church, 278 Strawberry Hill Avenue, Stamford, CT 06902. There are no calling hours. Interment will immediately follow Mass at Fairfield Memorial Park in Stamford.

In lieu of flowers, Rita’s family requests donations to St. Bridget of Ireland Church and/or Tunnel to Towers Foundation ( https://t2t.org/ ).

To leave a message of condolence to Rita’s family please visit www.cognetta.com.