Obituary of Gabriella S. Izzo

WESTPORT, CONN Gabriella S. Izzo, 87, predeceased by her loving husband, Joseph A. Izzo of 57 years, passed away peacefully at home on Sept. 1, 2024. Gabriella, daughter of the late Michael and Teresa (Santella) Testa, was born in Ielsi, Campobasso, Italy, on Nov. 1, 1936. She came to the United States with her family in 1947, attended Norwalk schools and graduated from cosmetology school. She was a hairdresser and worked in Darien for over 50 years, until her retirement in 2020. Gabriella was a devoted wife, loving mother and grandmother, and adored the time she spent with her family and friends. She was a talented chef in the kitchen and generously gave home-grown grape jelly, fresh tomato sauce, homemade sausage, Christmas cookies and Easter pies to family, friends, co-workers and even her cherished clients. Gabriella always honored Ielsi by cooking and baking traditional recipes for special holidays from her hometown. As a longtime member of Assumption Church, she was a devout Catholic who volunteered for many years and was a member of the Catholic Daughters until it disbanded. Gabriella is survived by her daughter Lisa (George) Stanton of Westport; her son Joseph (Jennifer) of Wilmington, N.C., and her daughter Felicia (David) Smith of Westport. She is also survived by her four grandchildren: Melissa (Edward) Carter, Jeffrey Stanton, and Timothy and Kevin Izzo, and many nieces and nephews. Gabriella is predeceased by one brother, Nicholas A. Testa of Norwalk. Family and friends will gather for calling hours on Wednesday, Sept. 4, from 5 to 8 p.m., in the Harding Funeral Home, 210 Post Road East. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at Assumption Church, 98 Riverside Ave., at 10 a.m. Thursday, Sept 5. Entombment will follow at Willowbrook Cemetery, 395 Main St. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Gabriella’s name to Assumption Church of Westport.