Jo-Ann R. Sensale

August 22, 1952 - January 15, 2017

Jo-Ann R. Sensale, 64, of North Haven passed away on Jan. 15,2017 at the CT. Hospice Branford. She is survived by her beloved husband Joseph J. Sensale, her loving son Eric Litchfield and his wife Elizabeth of Stratford, cherished grandson Paul Litchfield, a brother Peter Aldino of Voorheesville, NY, a step daughter Michele D. Sensale of E. Berlin,CT and a step son Robert N. Sensale of Wallingford. Jo-Ann was born Aug. 22,1952 in Oceanside, Long Island,NY a daughter of the late Joseph and Betty Aldino , was a graduate of the University of New Haven and then earned her JD degree from Quinnipiac University School of Law. She practiced law with several different law firms most recently as an associate with Bendett and McHugh of Farmington. Jo-Ann had an indomitable spirit and a huge heart, and loved being a wife, mother, grandmother, friend, lawyer, joke teller and genuine free spirit. She was outspoken, quick-witted and larger-than-life. She loved to laugh and make people laugh, and was always extraordinarily generous with her love, resources and time. She loved her profession and had a deep respect for the law, always eager to share her expertise and advice with anyone. Every client was her most important client and she fought hard for every one, especially those she felt were underserved or going through hard times. She made Christmas a wonderland for her grandson, elaborately decorating her tree and house with whatever his latest interest was at the moment. Superheroes one year. Birds another. Fish the next. And her traditional Christmas Eve dinners were legendary, running seven courses and several hours. It didn’t matter if you were full. She loved her birthday and getting presents, but she was always more generous to others. She was a voracious reader and had an insatiable curiosity about life and people. She loved history, music and politics, and she loved her bulldogs, first Spencer and now Bentley. She showed incredible courage and strength and maintained an unerring faith throughout her five-year battle with cancer. Her bravery and resilience will never be forgotten. We will forever miss her. The family would like to thank all the staff at the Smilow Cancer Center and CT Hospice in Branford for their extraordinary care and effort on Jo-Ann's behalf. Funeral from Sisk Brothers Funeral Home, 3105 Whitney Ave., Hamden, Saturday morning at 9:30. Service will be held in the United Church on the Green, 270 Temple St., New Haven, at 10:00. ( Free parking available behind the parish house). Burial will follow in All Saints Cemetery, North Haven. Calling hours at the funeral home will be Friday from 4-8 pm. Should friends desire , memorial contribution may be made to Yale University , c/o Dr. Alessandro Santin, Yale University School of Medicine, 333 Cedar St., PO Box 208063, New Haven, CT 06520. www.siskbrothers.com