Drinagh Marie Mullan Garofalo, 74, of Old Saybrook, passed away on Thursday, June 29.
She was born in Greenwich on Dec. 6, 1942 to the late Edward Mullan, of Donegal, Ireland, and Margaret (Murphy) Mullan, of Dunmanway, Ireland, and grew up in the Riverside section of town. She moved to Springdale in Stamford in the late 1960’s, where she lived and raised her family until she moved to Old Saybrook in 2006.
Drinagh graduated from St. Mary’s High School in Greenwich in 1960. She attended St. Raphael’s Nursing school and went on to receive her associate’s degree in nursing from Norwalk Community College. As a registered nurse, she worked at Stamford Hospital in Stamford for 42 years and then at the Pequot Surgery Center of Lawrence + Memorial Hospital in Groton, Conn., until her retirement in 2015.
Drinagh was an avid traveler who visited five of the seven continents throughout her many journeys, returning most often to her treasured “homeland” of Ireland. In later years, she enjoyed the beach life and was an active volunteer with the Old Saybrook Historical Society and Backyard Humanitarian.
Drinagh is survived by her son, Gregg (Gregory) Garofalo, and his wife, Deborah McElroy, of Old Saybrook; her daughter Lara Nedobity and her husband, Douglas Nedobity, of Portland, Conn.; her daughter Marci A. Garofalo and her partner, Robert White, of Stamford; her three beloved granddaughters, Shelby Lynne Leone-Garofalo, Katharine Rose Nedobity and Elizabeth Ann Nedobity; her sister, Patricia M. Burnham, and brother-in-law, Walter Dean Burnham, of Austin, Tex.; her niece, Anne Burnham, and nephew, John Burnham; her sister-in-law, Jean Garofalo, of Norwalk; and her longtime companion, John James “Jim” Richard, of South Windsor.
She was predeceased by her husband of 36 years, Anthony J. Garofalo.
Calling hours are today at Castiglione Funeral Home in Greenwich; a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated tomorrow, Friday, at 10 a.m. in St. Catherine of Siena Church, 4 Riverside Ave., Riverside. Burial will follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery, 399 North St.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in her name to the Stamford Hospital Foundation – Carl and Dorothy Bennett Cancer Center, 1351 Washington Blvd., Suite 202, Stamford CT 06902 or to the Connecticut Down Syndrome Congress (CDSC), P.O. Box 243, Meriden CT 06450.
To leave an online condolence, please visit castiglionefh.com
