Maria Gatto, age 74, of Fairfield and Stratford CT, passed away August 31st, after a long and courageous battle with Parkinson's. She was a loving and devoted wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and friend, always putting others before herself. She had the most generous, loving heart and touched many lives with her presence. Her family and friends will always be thankful for the gift that was her life. Maria married Benjamin Gatto in 1960. They raised two children; Dominick and Elise in New York before settling the family in Monroe, CT and retiring in Stratford CT. Maria especially loved dancing with her husband, sharing good times with family and friends, tall glasses of champagne and lots of shopping. She is preceded in death by Ben, her loving husband of 55 years. Survived by son Dominick Gatto, daughter and son-in-law Elise & John Grubb, granddaughters Alyssa & Ashley Gatto, sister, Elvira Howard, brother, Arnold Mazzola, brother-in-law, Dominick Gatto and his wife Susan, BFF Mary Jane Brodski, and many nieces and nephews. A Memorial Mass in Maria's memory will be celebrated on Saturday September 10th at 10am at St. Mark Church 500 Wigwam Lane Stratford CT. Interment will be private. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the Adzima Funeral Home- Stratford.The family requests in lieu of flowers a donation be made to the Parkinson's Disease Foundation (http://www.pdf.org) in Maria's name.