Shirley Y. Cerritelli, 96, of Waterbury, beloved wife of the late Nicholas J. Cerritelli, passed away peacefully in her home September 15, 2026, surrounded by her loving caregivers and family.

Shirley was born on September 9, 1930, in Waterbury, to the late Lester and Viola Young. Shirley attended Russell School, Waterbury Catholic High and Edgewood Park College.

She was a devout Catholic and daily communicant of Blessed Sacrament Church in Waterbury and Saint Ambrose Church in Deerfield Beach, FL. She was a lifelong Waterbury resident who nurtured friendships that go back to kindergarten and high school.

Shirely was a Realtor in the family Real Estate brokerage, Lester E. Young, Inc. where she was a natural at helping people capture the dream of home ownership. Shirley was a competitive Bridge Player who created bridge groups in Waterbury and Boca Raton, FL where she wintered. She loved playing golf and rejoiced the day she had a hole-in-one. She was an incredible organizer and led the Blessed Sacrament Ladies Guild raising money for the school and church. Shirley was a beautiful blend of charisma, grace and wit; always making you feel like you were the only person in the room. She especially adored her grandchildren and great grandchildren and thought of them all as very special gifts. Like her father, Lester, Shirely loved a good party, was a magnet for fun people and a perfect host. She had an incredible work ethic and strong moral fiber. She was a welcome sounding board for family and friends. She was authentic and kind to everyone she met.

Shirley is survived by her children, Robert (Grace) Cerritelli and Diane (Michael) Barry; her grandchildren, Lynne (David Anderson) Cerritelli, Anna (Ryan) Mowrey, Caitlyn Cleary, Nolan (Jessica) Cleary, Bryan Cleary, Colleen (Katie Smith) Barry, Ray (Amanda Masters) Barry, Kyle (Emily) Barry, Chelsea (Richard) Marks, and her great grandchildren; Sophia Grega, Willa and Vance Mowrey, Charlotte and Serena Cleary, Albert Smith, June and Eve Barry, Evan Barry, and Olivia Marks. She was predeceased by her husband Nicholas J. Cerritelli, her father and mother Lester E. Young and Viola Bertrand Young.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 10:00am on Friday, September 18, 2026, at Blessed Sacrament Church, 182 Robbins St., Waterbury, CT. (Please meet directly at the church.) Burial will follow at Mount Olivet Cemetery, 669 Platt Rd., Watertown, CT. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made payable to Vitas Healthcare, (her Hospice Organization) and mailed to: Vitas Healthcare, 199 Park Rd Ext., Suite 102, Middlebury, CT 06762 and please write “Shirley Y. Cerritelli” in the check memo.