Elizabeth (Janovich) Sembiante, a lifelong Stratford resident and Stratford High School graduate, died peacefully at home on November 12, 2024, after a courageous 20-year battle with Parkinson's Disease.

A depression era child, Elizabeth grew up in a large family on Lenox Avenue in Stratford. If not an already difficult enough era to be born into, Elizabeth lost her father John when she was 7 years old and her mother Mary when she was 16. The family's economic struggles and early, painful losses were forces propelling Elizabeth to become the loving, tender, sensitive and understanding soul she was. Surviving the difficult childhood took strength, and Elizabeth proved to be a truly strong woman.

While some may have withered from the pain, Elizabeth learned to work hard to pull her weight in a family needing labor in the absence of parents. She worked equally as hard in school, developing into a truly brilliant woman. Elizabeth kept her intelligence and strength humbly in her head and heart, never wanting to make others feel inferior or uncomfortable. School years solidified Elizabeth's core value to put herself second and watch out for others such that they not experience pain or difficulty.

On Labor Day weekend 1953, a chance encounter at Short Beach with a sailor home to see his Stratford family would set the stage for Elizabeth to truly flourish. She met William Sembiante and would have three children with him. Elizabeth was the quintessential 1960s mother, so loving, so caring, so giving. She was loved by the neighborhood children and many referred to her as their second mother.

While Elizabeth's heart was destined for motherhood and desiring a more traditional stay-at-home role, she worked evenings to make extra money for the family at Kennedy's/Nyden's Department Store.

When her children were older Elizabeth developed a career in banking, excelling as a Customer Service Team Lead with First Union/Wachovia/Wells Fargo banks. In this phase of her life Elizabeth's intellect flourished, but she kept the heart of a mother and developed wonderful friendships and bonds with so many at work, including dear friend Pat Pagerini.

Elizabeth is survived by her devoted husband and strongest of caregivers William Sembiante; sons William J. Sembiante, wife Iris, and son Julian Shadeck, David Sembiante and wife Kim, and Bob Sembiante; sister Eleanor Sullivan, and; her many nieces and nephews. She is predeceased by siblings, Mary Argonese, John "J.J." Janovich, Theresa Hurley, Frances Beaumont, Margarite Burel, and Robert and William Janovich. Special thanks to brother-in-law Thomas Sembiante who supported husband Bill through this most difficult of times, one-of-a-kind daytime caregiver Darla Krapp, dear weekend caregiver Cindy Grzywacz and niece Beth Hurley for the many visits.

Funeral mass will be held at Holy Name of Jesus Church in Stratford, 1950 Barnum Avenue, on Tuesday, November 19, 2024 at 10:30 a.m.  The family will form a receiving line after the mass to greet friends and family.  A private burial for the family will follow at St. John's Cemetery in Stratford.

Please consider a donation to The New England Parkinson's Ride which David and Kim ride each year in Elizabeth's honor ( neparkinssonsride.org ).

"What we do for ourselves dies with us.  What we do for others and the world remains and is immortal." (Albert Pine)