Our beloved mother and grandmother Catherine Ann Dean, 91, passed away peacefully on March 19, 2026. Catherine, known more familiarly as Cathy, was born on December 17, 1934, in Newark, N.J. and was the 7th child of Antonio and Maria Romano Luppino.

Cathy met the love of her life, Edward (Ed) Thomas Dean, while working at GE in New Jersey. Shortly after the wedding, they moved to Connecticut where they raised their three children in Stratford. Cathy was always intensely curious and this led to her becoming a travel agent, leading tour groups (often with her family tagging along) to places all over the world. She even planned the honeymoons of friends and relatives.

Following her son Eddie’s death, she was a support to other moms who had lost their children. Like the song Crowded Table by the Highwomen, Cathy always had room at her table over the holidays (and on a regular Tuesday) for anyone who wasn’t able to be with their family. Cathy and Ed’s home in Stratford was a place where all were welcome, always filled with music, dance, laughter, and good company.

Always devout Catholics, Cathy and Ed taught religious studies to middle school students and attended their local parish Our Lady of Grace. Cathy was the person that her loved ones would go to if they knew of someone that needed support and she would reliably have all her loved ones in her prayers, often praying a novena specifically for those who needed it.

Cathy was a supportive and loving grandmother, and her family affectionately refers to her as GG (Gorgeous Grandma). She and her husband Ed, known as Papa, were the constant cheerleaders and participants in their grandchildren’s lives. They were so supportive and involved that many teachers and friends all considered them to be their own grandparents.

They were married for 64 beautiful years. Ed passed away almost exactly 4 years ago in 2022 (it was difficult for them to stay apart for long!).

Catherine leaves behind two daughters Mary Dean and husband, George Grom, and Deborah Dean. She also leaves behind her five grandchildren Edward (Eddie), George Jacob (Jake) & Samantha (Sami) Grom, John Dean (JD) and Gabrielle (Gabby) Rodia, who were all the apple of her eye. She also leaves behind many nieces and cousins who loved her dearly. In addition to her husband, she was also predeceased by one son, Edward (Eddie) Dean, along with all six of her siblings.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 AM on Saturday March 21st meeting directly at Our Lady of Grace Church 497 Second Hill Lane, Stratford, celebrated by Rev. Paul Sankar. In lieu of flowers, you may honor Catherine’s memory by donating to Caring Hospice Services of CT (456 Glenbrook Rd., Stamford, CT 06906) if you so desire.

The Dean family would like to extend their gratitude to all the caregivers at Middlebrook Farms for the loving care they provided to Catherine and her husband.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the Adzima Funeral Home- Stratford.