Madeline ‘Nina’ (Andrellini) Zavagnin

EAST CANAAN — Madeline “Nina” (Andrellini) Zavagnin, 97, of Lower Road died peacefully at her home on May 16, 2011. She was the widow of Louis A. Zavagnin, who died May 4, 1972. Nina was born Sept. 6, 1913, in Zugliano, Italy, the daughter of the late Lucia (Caltran) and Fortunato Andrellini.Nina worked cleaning homes for many families in the Northwest Corner. She was a communicant of St. Joseph’s Church in North Canaan and belonged to the Daughters of Isabella of St. Joseph’s Church. In 1993, Nina was recognized as the Daughter of the Year. She was a former member of the Winsted Senior Citizens Club. Nina was an accomplished knitter. She was especially known for her abilities to knit baby sweaters along with many other items.Nina is survived by her daughter, Elizabeth Kowalski of Falls Village; her sons, George Zavagnin of East Canaan and Robert Zavagnin and his wife, Heather, of Goshen; her three sisters, Maria Sunta Dalmaso, Caterina Andrellini and Vitalma Missaggi, all of Italy; her two grandchildren, Christopher and Amanda Zavagnin, both of Goshen; and by many nieces and nephews.A Mass of Christian burial will be held on Thursday, May 19, at 11 a.m. in St. Joseph’s Church. Burial will follow in St. Joseph’s Cemetery. The Newkirk-Palmer Funeral Home in North Canaan has charge of the arrangements. Memorial donations may be sent either to the Salisbury Visiting Nurse Association, 30A Salmon Kill Road, Salisbury, CT 06068 or to the Daughters of Isabella Scholarship Fund, St. Joseph’s Circle #650, St. Joseph’s Church, 4 Main St., North Canaan, CT 06018.