Dolores (Bruno) Budeit

Dolores (Bruno) Budeit, 90, died peacefully early Wednesday morning, March 25, 2020, after a long battle with end-stage dementia. Dolores was born on Election Day, November 5, 1929 in New Haven, CT, daughter of the late Guido and Rose Bruno.  Her father, Guido, was one of the pastry chefs at Marzullo’s Bakery, formerly of Wooster Street, New Haven.

Dolores grew up in Fair Haven and graduated from Hillhouse High School in 1947.  She married Alfred C. Budeit in August 1950, one month before he shipped out to occupational troop duty with the U.S. Army in Germany.  Together they had three children, Attorney Audrey B. Blondin and her husband, Dr. Matthew Blondin of Goshen, CT, Gayle Tompkins and her husband Shawn of  Sunset Beach, North Carolina, and Alyson Teague and her husband Michael of Bangor, PA, along with eight grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren.  She is also survived by her brother, Joseph Bruno, of Spring Hill, Florida.  Alfred and Dolores lived in West Haven and then Orange for many years, when he passed away at the age of 60 in 1990. Thereafter  Dolores lived in Milford for 10 years and then Torrington, where she spent 22 years enjoying life with Eugene Luciani , formerly of Bethany before his passing in 2016, traveling to many places including Las Vegas, Europe, Bermuda  and the Panama Canal, as well as many cruises and fun times in Florida with her daughter and son-in-law, Matt and Audrey.  Dolores and Eugene also enjoyed participating in many local and statewide political events and activities over the years, where they enjoyed meeting and vising with our local, state and Federal officials.

Dolores was the owner of Race Brook Travels in Orange, CT for many years, where she enjoyed planning trips for her clients and friends, as well as traveling around the world.  She also was an avid UConn Women’s Basketball fan, and she and Eugene spent many happy days and nights playing the slot machines at the Mohegan Sun Casino.

The family would like to especially thank the staff at Litchfield Woods Health Care Center for the wonderful care they provided to Dolores over the last few years, as well as for the medical care she and Eugene received from Dr. Bradley Rosenberg for many years.

Due to COVID-19, there are no calling hours or services.  A celebration of life will be held Saturday, July 25, 2020, at Cook Funeral Home, 82 Litchfield Street, Torrington, CT.  Relatives and friends may call from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., concluding with a funeral service at 11:00 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, and to honor the memory of Dolores, contributions may be made to VOSH-CT, P.O. Box 448, Torrington, CT  06790.  Condolences may be sent to Dolores' family by visiting www.cookfuneralhomect.com