Dorothy Mariano

Dorothy Mariano, age 95, of Naugatuck, CT, went home to be with the Lord on March 18, 2026 at Kind Care Assisted Living after a brief illness.

She was born on October 2, 1930 in Naugatuck, a daughter of the late Joseph and Louise (Linskey) Zehnder. She attended local schools and graduated in 1948 as Salutatorian of her class. Education was always important to her parents. She earned a social work degree from St. Joseph College and worked at Glendale Health Care Center.

In 1957 she met her husband of 56 years, Edward Mariano. Together they had 6 children: Andrea (Howard), Peter, Chris, Mark (Lori), David (Eileen) and Alison (Mark). She was blessed with 16 grandchildren, and 10 great grandchildren.

Dorothy enjoyed traveling to Bermuda, Hawaii, and Ireland, the many family vacations to Cape Cod, watching all kinds of sports especially UCONN men and women’s basketball, family celebrations, and baking Christmas cookies.

In addition to her parents, Dorothy was preceded in death by her husband, her 2 brothers, Donald and Robert Zehnder and one sister, Arline O’Donovan.

The family would like to thank Accent Hospice and the staff of Kind Care Assisted Living.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, March 27, 2026 at 11:00am at St. Francis of Assisi Church, 318 Church Street, Naugatuck. Everyone is asked to please meet directly at the church. Burial will follow in St. James Cemetery, Cross Street, Naugatuck. 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 Dorothy’s memory, memorial contributions may be made to the Edward R. Mariano Scholarship Fund - c/o ION Bank, 87 Church Street, Naugatuck, CT 06770.