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Kathleen Elizabeth O’Leary Chieppo, 63, of Branford, passed away on May 15. She fought a courageous battle against colon cancer and was able to be at home with her family by her side in her final days.

Kathy was born in New Haven on Dec. 6, 1957. She leaves behind her husband Thomas Chieppo and her two sons, Tommy and Kevin, as well as her brothers Patrick O’Leary of Stratford and Donald (wife Barbara) of Deep River, her sisters-in-law Melissa Chieppo of Newton, Massachusetts, and Sharon Bias (Dave) of West Burke, Vermont, and brother-in-law Timothy Chieppo (Valerie) of Ansonia. She will be missed by all her nieces and nephews as well as her aunts and uncles, Fran and Bob Noonan of Guilford and John Torello of East Haven. She was predeceased by her parents, Patrick and Jane O’Leary of East Haven.

She grew up in East Haven, attended East Haven High School, and graduated from Quinnipiac College, where she had met Tom and then married. She was employed at Blue Cross after graduation until her children were born. She cherished her family trips to the Cape and to a family home in Burke, Vermont. Most of all she loved being at home with her two sons growing up in Branford; they were her pride and joy. She loved the ocean, music, and her many pets.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Kathy’s memory to the Yale Smilow Cancer Hospital or givetoynh.org.