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Dolores Ann “Babs” Testa, 91

Dolores Ann “Babs” Testa, 91, of Guilford, formerly of Madison, passed away peacefully on June 22. Born on July 22, 1930 in West Haven, Dolores was the daughter of the late Antonio and Maria Catenza. She grew up in West Haven, and graduated from West Haven High School and attended nursing school later in life.

The words we heard over and over again from others to describe our mother were, “She’s very sweet.” Sweet, caring, kind and soft spoken, she was a gentle force who strove for perfection in everything that she did. Most important to her were home and family. She was the youngest of 12 children and loved her siblings and their families dearly. She was a proud mother of three devoted children and the widow of a husband who adored her throughout their 69 years of marriage. She took a keen interest in all that her family was involved in and made our house a home with her special touches. We will fondly remember how tastefully appointed the house was for the holidays and how much we enjoyed marathon holiday meals. She had a great sense of style, loved music and dance, reading, movies, gardening, feeding her hummingbirds, exercise, antiques, crafts, and was a big fan of the UConn women’s basketball team. Dolores was a parish member of St. Mary’s Church of the Visitation in Clinton.

She was a master of the lost art of the handwritten note and would spend hours at her desk searching for just the right words to let others know that she cared about them. “Thanks Mom for sitting us down at an early age and making us write thank you notes.”

Dolores did yoga, meditated, and was interested in health food back in the 1970s, before they became trendy. She continued these practices right up until age 90. She also loved to walk at Hammonasset, Rettich Preserve and Bauer Farm in Madison, and did so at a good pace. Health was important to her. After raising her children, she enrolled in the Middlesex Memorial Hospital Ona M. Wilcox College of Nursing and at the age of 50, fulfilled a dream by becoming a registered nurse. For the next 16 years, she had a successful career as an R.N. at the Saybrook Convalescent Hospital, where she was loved by her patients and their families.

Dolores was predeceased by her parents, her husband, Louis Edward Testa Jr. who passed two years ago; daughter-in-law Kelly Lyn Testa; her six brothers: Louis, Dominic, George, Harry, Raymond and John: and her five sisters: Lucy, Phyllis, Anna, Kathleen and Anne Marie. She will be greatly missed by her children, Debi Testa, Dolores Testa and Louis E. Testa III and his wife Rose and her daughters, Michela Edwards and Ariana Edwards MacBride (Danny). She is also survived by beloved sisters-in-law, Josephine Testa (widow of Robert Testa), Margaret Caruso (Michael); and many nieces and nephews.

The family would like to thank the staff at Aaron Manor in Chester for the wonderful loving care they provided in our mother’s final weeks. “Mom, we hope you and Daddy are reunited and dancing cheek to cheek again. We will always be grateful to both of you for the loving family and home that you gave us.” To honor our mother, please take the time to sit down and handwrite a note to someone and let them know you are thinking of them.

A graveside service will be performed privately for the family and a Memorial Mass will be held at a later date for others who would like to pay their respects.