On Sunday May 23, 2021, Denise Pragano went home to her Heavenly Father.
After many months of increased illness, she died peacefully at Midstate Medical Center surrounded by her children and grandchildren.
Denise was daughter of the late Raymond Lewis Ortello and Dolores Ramona Ortello of West Haven, CT, brother of the late Paul Ortello, also of West Haven.
Denise left behind 3 loving daughters and five beautiful grandchildren, Lisa (Joe) , Emma and Jackson Baxter of Westbrook, Amy Pragano, Olivia and Ashlynn Trenchard and Gianna (Pete) Carusone of West Haven and Emily Pragano of Portland, Oregon.
Denise spent her life enjoying the simple things, good music, the beach, and her favorite meals among but a few. She held family and friends dearly and made new friends everywhere she went, right until her last days where the nurses and staff at Midstate all fell in love with her. She was perhaps proud of her grandchildren most of all. She was a warm, hilarious, and brave woman who dealt with a lot and expected nothing in return and to say she will be greatly missed is a tremendous understatement. She had a devout faith in Christ and we know is resting easy in heaven with her beloved mother father and brother.
The shoes she will leave behind are going to be irreplaceable to fill, we are so thankful that we had Denise, beloved mother, sister, daughter, grandmother and friend. Rest in Heavenly Peace.
In light of a funeral and wake, Denise has chosen to be cremated. Her ashes will someday meet the sea per her request, as it was her most favorite.
A small celebration of life lantern release will be held in her honor at Bradley Point, in West Haven CT at sunset, 6:30 pm on Thursday, May 27th, 2021. Lanterns will release promptly at 7:30 pm. If you have a favorite memory or photo, please bring it to share. All will be welcome to say a few words. We will be welcoming anyone who wants to say a word. Our mom was not a stuffy person and was a free spirit, and she would want to be celebrated, so we know this is a perfect sendoff.
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