Shirley Ciesla

Naugatuck, CT Shirley (Heavens) Ciesla, died peacefully at home on August 6, 2023 with her children by her side. She was the wife of the late Edward Ciesla for 55 years.

Shirley was born in Waterbury, CT on September 21, 1929 daughter of the late Raymond and Rose (Boraski) Heavens. She graduated from Naugatuck High School and from Bryant College in Providence, RI. Shirley was a secretary at the Naugatuck Glass Co. and also in the Guidance Dept. at Naugatuck High School.

She was a member of NHS Club 47 and a former member of the Council of Catholic Women, the Naugatuck Garden Club, Holy Cross High School Mothers Club and the Waterbury Catholic Grads, where she met her husband.

Shirley loved to travel with her husband, and together they visited all 50 states, all Western European countries and many Eastern European countries. Later in life she cruised the Panama Canal and the Caribbean with Ed and her daughter Cara.

She and her husband attended the UConn Men’s and Women's basketball games for many years, even attending 4 Final Fours.

She leaves her loving and devoted children, her son, Michael and his wife Debra of Granby, MA, her daughter, Cara Jeanne Ciesla of Plantsville, CT, her grandson, Ian of Granby, MA, who called her frequently to chat; her grand dog, Riley and several nieces, nephews and cousins. In addition to her husband and her parents, Shirley was predeceased by her brother, Donald (Diane); brothers-in-law, Thaddeus (Janice) and Edwin (Alberta).

The family would like to thank her aids Aneta, Iwona and Anna for the loving and compassionate care they provided.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Friday, August 11, 2023 at 11:00am at St. Francis of Assisi Church, 318 Church Street, Naugatuck, CT. Burial will follow at St. James Cemetery, Cross Street, Naugatuck, CT. Family and friends are kindly asked to please meet directly at church. There are no calling hours and arrangements have been entrusted to the Buckmiller Thurston Mengacci Funeral Home, 82 Fairview Avenue, Naugatuck. In lieu of flowers and to honor Shirley’s memory, donations are requested to St Francis of Assisi Church or to the charity of the donor’s choice.