William M. Michelotti, Jr., 32, of Stamford passed away on Friday, February 24, 2023. He was born on September 4, 1990 in Greenwich to William M. Michelotti, Sr. and Deborah Lynn Michelotti.
Will was an avid outdoorsman. He enjoyed snowboarding and time on the water paddle-boarding with his friends and family. He loved cooking, gardening, and fishing. He was an impactful and loyal friend to everyone who met him. Above all, he was a man that cherished his family and was the best son and brother he could be. Besides his parents, William is survived by his sisters, Cassie O’Connor and her husband Chris and Jessica Michelotti, both of Stamford, as well as his maternal grandmother, Linda Masciola of Stamford.
He was predeceased by his paternal grandparents, Louis and Clare Michelotti and his maternal grandfather, Anthony Masciola.
Family and friends may call at the Nicholas F. Cognetta Funeral Home & Crematory, 104 Myrtle Avenue, Stamford on Friday, March 3, 2023 from 4:00-8:00 PM. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, March 4, 2023 at 10:30 AM at St. Leo Parish, 24 Roxbury Road, Stamford. Interment will be private.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in William’s memory to a cause that will help prevent losses like this: Shatterproof, 101 Merritt Seven, Norwalk, CT 06851
https://donate.shatterproof.org/page/41133/donate/1?ea.tracking.id=may22-website-button&transaction.inmem=Y
To leave online condolences, please visit www.cognetta.com

Drew Rhodes Bachman Karwosky
In the early hours of Wednesday, February 22, 2023, Drew Karwosky peacefully passed away with her family by her side. She was 69.
Drew was born on March 10, 1953 in Brooklyn, NY and later moved to the Shippan area of Stamford, CT with her parents; Allan E. and Florence D. Bachman. Her father Allan, was Executive Vice President of the Better Business Bureau and was the author of two books “A Guide to National Advertising” and “Do’s and Don’ts in Advertising Copy.”
Drew attended Low Heywood School in Stamford, CT and had a passion for horses and figure skating. Her enjoyment for the ice continued as she raised her children, and culminated in her involvement with Stamford Youth Hockey as one of the first female coaches.
Drew also had a passion for working with children. She spent the last 23 years of her career as the Office Manager at ROSCCO Stamford School Community Organization Inc, while simultaneously tutoring ESL, ELL and learning disabled adults and children.
Drew is survived by her daughter Karin (Mulvey), son Joseph David, and grandchildren Kayla Elizabeth (Mulvey) and Joseph David Jr.
Visitation will be held on Sunday, February 26, 2023 at Nicholas F Cognetta Funeral Home, 104 Myrtle Ave – Stamford, CT from 2:00pm – 5:00pm.
A mass of Christian burial will take place on Monday, February 27, 2023 at Our Lady Star of the Sea Church, 1200 Shippan Ave – Stamford, CT at 10:00am.
Interment will follow at Woodland Cemetery, 66 Woodland Pl – Stamford, CT.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Drew’s honor and memory to ROSCCO Stamford School Community Organization Inc.
To leave messages of condolence online please visit the family guestbook posted on www.cognetta.com

Jerri I. Lavoie, age 69 , a resident of Stamford passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving family on February 22, 2023. She was born in Stamford on June 25, 1953 to the late Basil and Jeannene Duren Davis. Jerri was an exceptional loving wife to Donald J. Lavoie Jr of 46 years.
Jerri is survived by her loving children, Tina Pajeski and her husband William of East Haven and Donald J. Lavoie III and his wife Carla of Norwalk, as well as her grandchildren, Krislynn, Marissa, William, Autumn, Chance and three great grandchildren, Kai, Avery and Spencer. Also surviving is her brother, Joseph Davis and his wife Barbara of Danbury and two sisters, Judi Labbadia and her husband David of Hall, NY and Jean Davis of Stamford.
Besides her parents, Jerri was also predeceased by her brother, Jeffrey Davis.
Jerri started her career as a waitress at 17 years old working for Friendly’s Ice Cream. She finalized her career after 27 years as a manager. Upon retiring from Friendly’s, she found her calling as a nanny. Over 25 years she worked for 4 loving families and had a unique relationship with all of them.
Jerri was an AVID crocheter, as she called them “Hug Blankets.” Her blankets are all over the world and anyone who has received a blanket knows it’s a hug from Jerri.
Our mother was a phenomenal Wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother. She enjoyed traveling to Vermont and especially loved going to Upstate New York to visit her “Seester” Judi. Our mother was loved by so many and will be missed dearly.
Family and friends may call at the Nicholas F. Cognetta Funeral Home & Crematory, 104 Myrtle Avenue, Stamford on Tuesday February 28th 2023 from 4:00-8:00 PM.
To leave online condolences, please visit www.cognetta.com

Toula Vakos, a beloved mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister, aunt and friend passed away peacefully on the evening of Friday, February 17, 2023 with her family at her side. She was born in Kalamata, Greece on November 18, 1928 and was one of eight children born to the late Gregory and Maria Gianukakis Katsaros. Toula was 94 years old at the time of her passing.

Toula was devoted to her faith. She was a long time member of the Greek Orthodox Church of the Annunciation and of the Ladies Philoptochos Society. She regularly volunteered her time at church and loved to spend her time tending to her garden and cooking traditional Greek meals. But above all else, Toula was most content spending time with her family and grandchildren and great grandchildren. She will be greatly missed by her loved ones, and her memory will live eternal in their hearts.

Toula was predeceased by her beloved husband, John Vakos, in 2016 and is survived by her children Paul Vakos and wife Patricia of Branford, CT, Maria Bennett and husband Don of Warwick, RI, Vasso Pierne and husband Edward of North Haven, CT and Georgia Grasso and husband Paul of New Fairfield, CT; her nine grandchildren, Liana, Johnny, Debra, Brian, Ali, Michael, PJ, Nicki and Melanie; six great grandchildren; brothers, George and Jimmy Katsaros; and many nieces, nephews and extended family.

In addition to her husband and parents Toula was preceded in death by her siblings Pete Katsaros, Joanna Michelis, Voula Moustaka, Angelica Panopoulos and Georgia Varotsis.

Friends and family may call at the Nicholas F. Cognetta Funeral Home & Crematory, 104 Myrtle Ave., Stamford, CT on Tuesday, February 21st from 4PM to 8PM with a Trisagion service to begin at 7PM. A funeral service will take place on Wednesday, February 22nd at 10AM at Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, 1230 Newfield Avenue, Stamford, CT 06905. The Rev. Fr. Evan Evangelidis will preside over the services. The interment will immediately follow the service at Fairfield Memorial Park in Stamford.

In lieu of flowers donations in Toula’s memory are encouraged and may be made to Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, 1230 Newfield Avenue, Stamford, CT 06905.

To leave an online condolence please visit www.Cognetta.com.

Joseph M.C. Kung (“Joe”), the Kung family stalwart and an ardent advocate for the persecuted underground Roman Catholic Church in China, passed away in the early morning hours of February 14, 2023. He was one month shy of his 91st birthday.

Born in Shanghai, China to a distinguished 6th generation Catholic family, he was the second of eight children of Dr. Vincent Kung, a surgeon, and Theresa Yao, a homemaker.

He lived a life of faith, courage, and principle. Always taking the long view, he fought for what was right and just for both his family and so many others.

At 18 years old in 1950 soon after the Communist took over China, he left Shanghai to be reunited with his father who had fled to Hong Kong months earlier. As the border closed soon after, he could not see his siblings and his mother again for almost 30 years. His father died two years later, leaving him penniless and alone. Joe’s family remains forever grateful to Shanghainese family friends who assisted Joe during this time.

Joe is a proud beneficiary of the Refugee Relief Act of 1953. As a recipient of one of 2,000 visas granted to Chinese refugees, he relocated in 1955 to Ohio and enrolled at John Carroll University. He worked full time throughout his entire four years to put himself through school, graduating in 1959. He continued his education culminating with 2 MBAs – one each from (Case) Western Reserve University and Wayne State University. He was a CPA by trade.

Eventually, he returned to Hong Kong where he married his future wife, Agnes, in 1968. They were blessed with the birth of his four surviving children. A lifelong fervent American patriot, Joe is forever grateful to the United States for his many opportunities including the relocation of his young family to Stamford, CT in 1979 to the home that he lived in for the remainder of his life.

Aside from his four children, Joe is most proud of three accomplishments. First, the joy of facilitating the immigration of his mother and six siblings along with their immediate families to the United States. Seeing them happily retired and the next generation blossoming in the land of freedom was one of his greatest joys.

Second, keeping alive the memory of then Bishop (now Cardinal) Kung and successfully fighting for his release in 1987 after 32 years of incarceration in China for his religious beliefs and leadership.

Third, establishing in 1992 the Cardinal Kung Foundation not only to promote the persecuted Roman Catholic Church in China, but also to champion the cause for Cardinal Kung’s canonization. Joe Kung testified to Congress on multiple occasions, convinced 54 members of Congress to sign a letter to China’s Premier pleading for Cardinal Kung’s release, served as an expert witness to gain asylum for over 30 individuals or families of verified persecuted underground Catholics, and supported hundreds of underground clergy and nuns in renowned European seminaries and universities. His dedication, supported by his Board of Directors, resulted in both awards and condemnation including the Cardinal Mindszenty Award and being named as the biggest enemy of the Chinese government approved Patriotic Association catholic church by one director of a major religious community.

Joe was also a hobbyist inventor, a founder of two companies, a lifelong lover of classical music, a connoisseur of sweets, and above all, a loving dedicated family man.

Joe was predeceased by his older sister Ming Zhu, his beloved parents Dr. Vincent Kung and Theresa Yao Kung, as well as his cherished uncle Ignatius Cardinal Kung. He is survived by his wife of 54 years (Agnes), four children and their spouses (Terese Kung & Tom Scally, John Kung, Francis Kung & Colleen Sharkey-Kung, and Mary Kung), and granddaughter Thea Kung; six siblings and their spouses (Min Sun & Hong Qi Kung, Margaret & Ignatius Chu, Michael and Amy Kung, Peter & Mary Kung, Margaret and David Pang, Martha Ming Kung & John C. Hung); nine nephews and nieces and their spouses, and eight grand nephews and nieces.

Friends may call at the Nicholas F. Cognetta Funeral Home, 104 Myrtle Avenue, Stamford on Friday, February 24, 2023, from 4:30-7:00 PM (with eulogy at 5:30pm). A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, February 25, 2023, at 10:00 AM at the Basilica of St. John the Evangelist, 279 Atlantic Street, Stamford. Interment will follow at Queen of Peace Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please donate to The Cardinal Kung Foundation www.cardinalkungfoundation.org