John R. Sharkey, Jr., 82, passed away peacefully on March 25, 2023 after a brief illness with his family by his side. He was born in New Rochelle, NY in 1940 to the late John and Margaret Leonard Sharkey.
John grew up on the East Side of Stamford on Myrtle Avenue and spent his childhood summers in Canton, NY. After retiring from Metro North as a Conductor in 1994, John and his wife Nancy relocated to Boca Raton, FL and Port St. Lucie, FL, before returning to CT in 2009. Since his retirement, John was an avid golfer and worked for years at Whitney Farms in Monroe. When he wasn’t golfing, he was spending time with his family, or watching the Yankees, 49ers, NASCAR and horseracing.
In addition to his wife, Nancy, he is survived by his children, Colleen Sharkey, Jason Sharkey and his wife Diana, grandchildren, Hunter, Sadi, Courtney and great granddaughter, Anna. Also surviving is his brother, Stephen and his wife Jackie as well as his German Shepherd, Stella. He will also be missed by his nephews, nieces, cousins and many friends.
Besides his parents, John was predeceased by his brother, Vincent Sharkey, Sr. in 2011.
Family and friends may call at the Nicholas F. Cognetta Funeral Home & Crematory, 104 Myrtle Avenue, Stamford on Saturday, April 1, 2023 from 8:00 AM – 11:00 AM with a Mass of Christian Burial to be celebrated at 12:30 PM at St. Stephen Church, 6948 Main Street, Trumbull. Interment will be held privately at a later date.
The family requests that donations be made in John’s memory to the American Heart Association, 7272 Greenville Avenue, Dallas, TX 75231 or to a charity of one’s choice.
To leave online condolences, please visit www.cognetta.com

Anne Mish Pettus, age 98, slipped away peacefully on March 14, 2023, in the comfort of her home at Sunrise of Stamford. She was not alone, which was very important to her. Anne was born on November 23, 1924, in Jersey City, New Jersey and moved to Stamford, as a preschooler where her father, Peter Shawinsky was a deacon and choir master for the Ukrainian church. Her mother Anastasia Korda Shawinsky was a loving mother of five, Anne being the youngest of siblings Joseph, Peter, Teresa and Rose Shawinsky. Anne married her teenage sweetheart, John Mish, upon his return from WWII in 1945. They were married for 60 years before he predeceased her. In 2006 she married Robert Pettus of (Rowayton, CT) who passed away in 2015.

Anne is best known for her love of people and her caring nature. She had an exciting and successful career in the Western Union telegraph office during the war, and later also as a Cracker Jack sales representative for Visa credit cards. However, her number one job was always that of a loving caregiver. First, while just a teenager during the Great Depression, she helped to raise her nephew, then tended to two ailing parents, raised two children, spread love and joy to her two grandchildren and cared for her two beloved husbands. She loved the beach and spent many happy hours beachcombing and collecting sea glass on Long Island Sound and shells on Sanibel Island, Florida. Anne spent the last years of her life at Sunrise of Stamford, where she was an ambassador for new residents.

She is survived by her two children, John B. Mish, Jr. of New Milford, Connecticut, and Laurie Anne Manos of Harpswell, Maine and her two grandsons, Nicholas John Manos and Andreas George Manos.

Family and friends may call at the Nicholas F. Cognetta Funeral Home & Crematory, 104 Myrtle Avenue, Stamford on Friday, March 31, 2023, from 4 to 8 p.m. On Saturday, April 1, 2023, a funeral mass will take place at 10 a.m. in St Mary’s Catholic Church, 566 Elm Street, Stamford. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that a donation be made to St. Mary’s Church in Stamford, or to the Ukrainian Red Cross.

Lena Sottosanti, a resident of Old Greenwich and recently of Stamford, passed away at The Regional Hospice of Danbury on Thursday, March 16, 2023.
Lena was born in Stamford on May 27, 1927 and was the wife of the late Guido Sottosanti. She is survived by three sons; Guido Jr., Richard and David Sottosanti; grandchildren, Bethany Kamykowski (Beau), Gregory Sottosanti (Brittany), Erin Sottosanti, Leah Sottosanti, Dayna Del Valle (Yamil); great granddaughter Emme Rae; brother Hank Parente; and many other extended family members and dear friends. Lena was preceded in death by her grandchild Rachel “Rae” Sottosanti, her brother Benjamin, and sister-in-law Marie Parente.
A mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Thursday, March 23 at 10:30am at Sacred Heart Church, 37 Schuyler Avenue, Stamford, CT. Lena’s family will be receiving the condolences and sympathy of friends and family following mass.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to The Regional Hospice of Danbury, 30 Milestone Road, Danbury, CT 06810.
To leave a message of condolence online please visit www.cognetta.com.

William N. Kaltsas, 102, of Stamford and formerly of Cape Coral, FL, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, March 14, 2023 at Stamford Hospital. He was born in Manchester, NH on February 1, 1921 to the late Nicholas and Despina Kaltsas.
Bill was born in New Hampshire, but raised in Greece in the mountain town of Kastraki, famous for the Monasteries of Meteora. He returned to the US in the 1930’s and joined the CCC-Civilian Conservation Corps, where he fought forest fires and built roads out West. Once the war started, he enlisted with the Army Air Force and was trained in the new top secret radar. Bill received three Invasion Stars, New Guinea, Biak Island and the Phillipines. He never spoke about the war, only about his pet monkey, Susu and the PX. After the war, he became a restauranteur in New York City having several establishments, among them, the Fashion Coffee Shop, The Kings Pub and the Egyptian Gardens.
Bill and his beloved wife, Helen traveled the world together, but his favorite place was home. They moved to Cape Coral, Florida and lived there for over 25 years. Bill was very proud of his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. He was known as Papou, and supported them in all their interests and endeavors while attending games and graduations all over the country. His kindness, generosity and sense of humor will be greatly missed and he is now reunited with his beloved wife, Helen in heaven. May his memory be eternal.
William is survived by his loving children, Diana Hughes and her husband Peter of Stamford, Sandy Kaltsas and her husband Ron of Masapequa, NY and Charles Kaltsas and his wife Karen of Goffstown, NH. Also surviving are his grandchildren, Timothy Hughes and his wife Kara, Lauren Connolly, Ryan Hughes and his wife Christine, Billy Oliver and his wife Lynn and Eddie Oliver and his wife Danielle, as well as his great grandchildren, Kora, Liam, Parrish, William, Anastasia, Becca, Ryan, Justin, Julia and Brianna and great great grandchildren, Noelle and Alexander.
Besides his parents, William was also predeceased by his wife Helen Kaltsas.
A funeral service will be celebrated on Saturday, March 18, 2023 at 10:00 AM at the Church of the Archangels, 1527 Bedford Street, Stamford. Calling hours will be for one hour starting at 8:30 – 9:30 AM before the funeral service. Interment will be held at a later date in FL.
In lieu of flowers, the Kaltsas family requests that donations be made in William’s memory to the Veterans of Foreign Wars, VFW or the Church of the Archangels, Stamford.
To leave online condolences, please visit www.cognetta.com

Jerry C. Buzzeo, 67, of Greenwich, CT, passed away peacefully at Stamford Hospital on March 8th, 2023 with his family by his side. He was born in Port Chester, NY on January 28th, 1956 to the late Richard P. Buzzeo and Anne Cirincion Buzzeo.
Jerry was a kind loving person who had a tough road to navigate at times and never complained. He did it all with stamina, endurance and a smile that will be missed forever.
We have many fond memories of Jerry, although with some mischief mixed in. Since he was outnumbered by his five sisters he was always working his magic to get one over on us. He won out most of the time.
You could always find Jerry ready to gear up and join Dad on an adventure to The Catskills to hunt which was a passion for both of them and gave them time for father son bonding.
Jerry was always tinkering with cars and also learned the trade of carpentry from Dad. Restoring furniture was his specialty.
Most of all he loved to watch old movies which we enjoyed our time watching with him.
Jerry is survived by his loving sisters, Debra (Ron) Maselli, Sandra (Sal Caso) Leone, Susan (Robert) Orol, Sheila Giorgi and Kristy (Michael) Dreher.
Also surviving are several nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews.
Funeral services and Interment will be held privately.
Donations may be made in Jerry’s memory to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or to Shriner’s Hospital for Children.
Many heartfelt thanks to the exceptional care Jerry received ongoing from The Stamford Hospital and especially, The Stamford Hospital Family Center care team.
The kindness they extended to Jerry and our family will be carried in our hearts forever.
We will all hold Jerry in our hearts every day and pray he is at peace until we meet again.
The Nicholas F. Cognetta Funeral Home & Crematory is honored to handle arrangements for the Buzzeo family.