Obituary: Terrianne R. Grimaldi, 75, of Meriden

MERIDEN, CT - ( From Wallingford Funeral Home) In the early morning hours of September 14, 2021, just shy of her 76th birthday, Terrianne R. Grimaldi succumbed to a courageous battle with cancer passing peacefully surrounded by loved ones at Memorial Sloan Kettering Hospital in Manhattan.

She was a warrior and one of the kindest, most generous, and loving people adored by many. The world is a little dimmer because she’s gone. The sadness many feel over her loss is a reminder of how much joy she brought to those she touched. Forever someone to put others best interests ahead of her own. Even while terminally ill, she would ask how others were managing their own hardships or how she could help, rather than focus on her own illness.

She was predeceased by her parents Rosemary Gallucci and John Rutledge of Meriden, CT, her brothers Jack and Raymond Rutledge. She is survived by her son Shane Grimaldi, his partner Nina DiPierro, and their son Jack DiPierro Grimaldi of Manhattan, as well as two other grandchildren Charlie and Christian Falkis. Along with several close nieces and nephews, including Ray and Patty Rutledge and their daughters Heather Roy and Stacey Durr as well as many cousins and close friends.

She was born and raised in Meriden, CT and was a graduate of Orville H. Platt High School in 1963 where she was also a cheerleader. She later married and relocated to Southington, CT where she chose to raise her family.

Following her divorce after 23 years of marriage, she was a full-time single parent she served a dual role as both the mother and the father, while managing to hold down two jobs. She spent the better part of 40 years working in the insurance industry holding various administrative and supervisory roles.

First at Middlesex Mutual Assurance Company and later at Connecticut Underwriters where she retired from in 2019.

She also spent nearly 15 years working in the catalog department at JCPenney where she made many life-long friends. Her son Shane marvels to this day how she managed to juggle all that she did, the school projects, being a spectator at all her son’s extracurricular activities, the cooking, baking, and having an open-door policy to entertain friends and family at the house whether it was a holiday or a random summer day when her son’s friends would come over for a pool party. She also overcame many difficult health struggles, surviving open heart surgery in 2014 and she was a kidney transplant recipient in 2017. Calling her strong would be an understatement.

Terri was a gifted cook and baker. When you went to Terri’s house you knew you were going to be well fed and she’d cook so much that there would always be ample leftovers to take home. She was a fan of music and especially loved Tom Jones and Andrea Bocelli.

She was incredibly creative. This included but was not limited to baking beautiful cakes, needlepoint, crocheting, gardening, and creating amazing flower arrangements. She was a parishioner of St. Stanislaus in Meriden, CT. Involved with Big Brothers Big sisters into her 70’s.

She was very active, enjoyed going to out to dinner or the casino with her friends. She'd often shuttle her friends around who were not nearly as mobile. She loved getting her nails done and got many compliments on them during her final weeks while in the hospital. When texting she was known to enthusiastically use emojis.

In her later years she enjoyed splitting her time between Connecticut and New York, where she got to spend the last year or so enjoying her grandson Jack and was fortunate to hear him call her "Nana". She also enjoyed puttering around all the shops in Chelsea Market in New York and before Covid she was able to see many Broadway Shows. She loved Christmas.

She'd keep many of her holiday decorations up year around because they made her happy. She'd be so excited about the holidays in the summer, asking friends and family what gifts they wanted. Terri was an amazing mother and grandmother, but she was also a fiercely loyal friend and someone you could talk to about anything without fear of judgement. Always loved, never forgotten, forever missed. Rest in peace Terrianne.

In lieu of flowers the family has requested donations be made to the Lung Cancer Research Foundation via the following link: http://participate.lcrf.org/goto/TGrimaldi

It’s important to note, while smoking is the leading cause of lung cancer, upwards of 20% of lung cancer deaths are attributable to people who have never smoked, and those numbers continue to climb. Lung cancer claims more lives than breast, pancreatic and prostate cancers combined annually, yet lung cancer receives 5.4x's less research funding than all 3 of those cancers combined.

Your tax-deductible donation helps fund life-changing cancer research and education programs focused on improving lung cancer outcomes. Please help us to reach our goal.
Her family will receive relatives and friends at the Wallingford Funeral Home, 809 North Main Street Ext, Wallingford, CT 06492 on Saturday, October 9th from 8:45 AM to 10:15 AM and a 11 AM mass held at St. Stanislaus, 82 Akron St, Meriden, CT 06450.

At 12:15 PM there will be a bereavement reception at Violi’s II at Wallingford Country Club, 195 Long Hill Rd, Wallingford, CT 06492.