Cecile M. LaRose

Cecile M. (Raymond) LaRose

Born May 13, 1924 – Died March 31, 2026

Naugatuck, CT Cecile M. (Raymond) LaRose, age 101, passed away peacefully on March 31, 2026, at Complete Care at Middlebury. She was the fourth of nine siblings and lived a long life defined by hard work, dedication, and love for her family.

Born in Maine, Cecile attended Dewey School in Frenchville, graduating in 1936, and later attended Fort Kent High School. Demonstrating her lifelong commitment to education, Cecile proudly earned her GED from Naugatuck High School in 1980 at the age of 56; an accomplishment she held close to her heart.

Cecile moved to Connecticut with her family in 1941 at the age of 17. She began working at the U.S. Rubber Company footwear plant in Naugatuck in 1942 at the age of 18 and remained there until its closure in 1978. She later served as a secretary for the Naugatuck Board of Education for 18 years, retiring in 1996. In addition, she worked as a banquet manager at Cavallo’s Catering in Watertown for many years.

Outside of work, Cecile found great joy in bowling, a passion she pursued for over 40 years, traveling across the country to tournaments with friends. She also enjoyed playing Bingo and was a parishioner of St. Anne Roman Catholic Church in Waterbury, where she was a member of Les Dames de Ste. Anne.

Above all, Cecile cherished time spent with her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren who were truly the joy of her life.

She is survived by her daughter, Rose Marie (Jim) McGrath; her son, Raymond (Susan) LaRose; and her grandchildren, Ann Marie (Rich) Kilmer, Maureen (Jim) Korowotny, and Steven McGrath. She also leaves behind her great-grandchildren, Elizabeth and Matthew Kilmer, and Meghan and James Korowotny.

Cecile was predeceased by her parents, Rene Raymond and Lumina (Lachance) Raymond, as well as her siblings: Irene Bessette, Rita Sirois, Theresa Moreau, Noella Martin, Claire Raymond, Rose Flores, Roger Raymond, and Ronald Raymond.

The family would like to extend their heartfelt gratitude to the nurses and staff at Complete Care at Middlebury and Accent Care Hospice-CT for their kindness and compassion.

Cecile once said she wished “to be remembered for minding my own business,” a reflection of her humble and straightforward nature.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Tuesday, April 7, 2026 at 10:00am at the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, 74 West Main Street, Waterbury. Everyone attending Mass is kindly asked to please meet directly at church. Burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery, 2324 East Main Street, Waterbury. There are no calling hours and arrangements have been entrusted to the Buckmiller Ford Mengacci Funeral Home, 82 Fairview Avenue, Naugatuck. In lieu of flowers and to honor Cecile’s memory, memorial donations may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital at www.stjude.org or to Catholic Academy of Waterbury, 386 Robinwood Road, Waterbury, CT 06708.