Clara Ann Cinquanta, 94, of Branford, wife of the late Tony Cinquanta, died Sept. 4. She was born Jan. 1, 1919 in Branford to the late Venanzio and Sebastiano Ranalli. She was a lifelong resident of Branford and a communicant of St. Mary Church.

She worked as a seamtress into her 70s and was very active in the Amalgamated Clothing Workers Union. After losing her beloved husband, she lived independently for many years, well into her 90s. Clara’s life centered around her family, and she enjoyed family get-togethers, cooking, gardening and traveling. Clara always had a joy for living, a great sense of humor, a caring attitude, and a deep faith and trust in the Lord, who was the source of her strength. She will be greatly missed.

She is survived by her beloved son Anthony Cinquanta and his wife Margaret; two granddaughters, Laura and her husband Brian Mueller and Catherine and her husband Jerry Sorensen; and five great-grandchildren, Stephanie, Anthony, and Michael Mueller and Jerry and Kaylin Sorensen. She is also survived by two brothers, George Ranalli and Frank Ranalli and his wife Ann, and many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her siblings Vito Ranalli and his wife Mary, Josephine Cinquanta and her husband Alex, Daniel Ranalli and his wife Dorothy, Helen Allen and her husband Norman, and Antoinette Ranalli. 

A Mass of Christian burial was celebrated Sept. 9 in St. Mary Church followed by burial in St. Agnes Cemetery, Branford. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to Connecticut Hospice Home Care, Wallingford Home Care Office, 110 Barnes Road, Wallingford, CT 06492. The W.S. Clancy Memorial Funeral Home, Branford, was in charge of arrangements. For an online memorial, visit www.wsclancy.com.