Claudette B. (Berube) DeCilla

Claudette B. DeCilla, 82, of Prospect, passed away unexpectedly on Monday, July 17, 2023 at St. Francis Hospital in Hartford. She was the widow of the late Amedeo “Ralph” DeCilla, who shared over 52 years of marriage together before he left her side in 2018.

Claudette was born on December 3, 1940 in Fort Kent, ME, one of seven children of the late David and Alvine (Nadeau) Berube. Claudette earned her Bachelor’s degree at UCONN and worked as a neurophysiology technician at Yale New Haven Hospital for over 25 years before her retirement. Claudette was a longtime Prospect resident and a parishioner of St. Anthony Church, where for many years she volunteered for their grief ministry. She was also and an active member of the Prospect Senior Center. Claudette loved to travel and visited places all over the world including Costa Rica, Panama, and Europe. She loved being outdoors and enjoyed walking, birdwatching, and tending to her plants and garden. She was also a patron of the arts and regularly visited the Palace Theatre to see musicals, plays, and enjoyed going to the opera. She had an eclectic taste in music and enjoyed everything from classical Luciano Pavarotti to Elvis Presley. Family was everything to Claudette and her grandchildren were her pride and joy. She was a warm and loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend to so many and will be missed by all who knew her.

Left to cherish Claudette’s memory is her daughter Dominique DeCilla of Waterbury; her five siblings: Lucy Elliott (John) of St. John Plantation, ME, Betty Martin (Donald) of Bristol, Joel Berube (Doris) of Colchester, Don Berube (Patricia) of St. John Plantation, ME, and Eugene Berube (Diane) of Sinclair, ME; her thirteen grandchildren: Joshua, Patrick, Jacob, Lisa, Lucas, Colton, Justin, Adrienne, Alessandra, Angela, Josephine, Meli, and Chetan; her six great-grandchildren: Mason, Wesley, Olivia, Callum, Elijah, and Ralph; as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends, including her travel companion and dear friend of over 60 years Martha Straub of Harrison, ME, and Spooky, her adopted feline.

In addition to her husband and parents, Claudette is predeceased by her daughter Danielle (DeCilla) Scibek and her brother James Berube.

Visitation will be held from 2pm to 5pm on Sunday, July 23, 2023 at Prospect Memorial Funeral Home, 122 Waterbury Rd., Prospect. A mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Monday, July 24th at 10am at St. Anthony’s Church, 4 Union City Rd., Prospect. All those planning to attend are asked to meet directly at the church.  Claudette will be laid to rest at 2pm on Wednesday, July 26th in St. John’s Cemetery at 1867 St. John Rd. in St. John Plantation, ME.

Prospect Memorial/ The Palmerie Family Funeral Home is honored to be assisting the DeCilla family. You are invited to share a fond memory, photo and words of comfort for Claudette's family on her Tribute Wall on www.prospectmemorial.com

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