Sophie (Brigante) Conti

Sophie (Brigante) Conti, 96, of Kensington passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving daughters on Sunday, November 30, 2025. She was greeted in Heaven by her granddaughter Elizabeth and welcomed into the arms of her adored late husband, Lino Conti.

She was born in New Britain on May 2, 1929, the daughter of the late Paul and Grace (Cimino) Brigante. She graduated from New Britain High School and then attended Hartford Hospital School of Nursing where she graduated in 1950. Sophie began her nursing career as a staff nurse at Hartford Hospital on the Orthopedic and Medical floors. She worked for several years for Dr. Shechtman, ENT in downtown New Britain. While her daughters were young, she worked as a private duty nurse for Mr. Montague, a kind and generous man. Sophie completed her nursing career as the school nurse at E.C. Goodwin Technical School in New Britain where she received several recognitions for her dedicated service. The staff and students acknowledged her “untiring efforts as Nurse, Counselor, Teacher, and Friend.” Nurses are lifelong nurturers, and after retirement she sought out caregiver positions including several years as a nurse at the Berlin Fair. Throughout all these years, she was a source of comfort, guidance, and inspiration, always putting others before herself and demonstrating the true meaning of selflessness.

Sophie enjoyed many leisure activities including watching UCONN Women’s Basketball, attending her grandchildren’s sporting events, and travelling with family and friends to places like Cape Cod, Florida, Maine and Montreal. For many years she and Lino were the favorite hosts of memorable Thanksgiving dinners sharing laughter and love. In her later years, Lino convinced her to take up golf, and she learned to love it. She played until she was 89 years old. Music was always a meaningful part of her life from middle school choir at St. Anne’s until recently where she actively participated in the music activities at Cedar Mountain Commons and Pilgrim Manor.

Sophie was a loving wife to her dearly departed husband, with whom she shared 64 years of marriage. She is survived by her two daughters, Lisa Conti of Kensington and Carolyn Carcia and her husband Roy of Wethersfield; three grandchildren, Steven and wife Jenna Carcia, Matthew Carcia, and Mariana Carcia; three great-granddaughters, Giuliana, Sienna and Olivia Carcia; her brother Michael Brigante; several loving nieces and nephews and wonderful friends. She was predeceased by her precious granddaughter Elizabeth, and by her sister Josephine Borselle and brother Joseph Briganti.

The family wishes to thank the staff at Cedar Mountain Commons in Newington and Pilgrim Manor in Cromwell for their exceptional care, compassion and friendship during Sophie’s stay.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, December 6, 2025 at 11:30 AM at St. Paul Church, 461 Alling St., Berlin. Burial will follow at St. Mary Cemetery. Calling hours will be held Saturday morning from 9-11 AM at Erickson-Hansen Funeral Home of Berlin, 111 Chamberlain Hwy., Berlin. In lieu of flowers, Gifts can be directed to the Elizabeth Lee Carcia Build A Smile Fund at Connecticut Children’s Medical Center online by visiting Donate to Connecticut Children's Foundation, Inc. (connecticutchildrens.org) Checks, made payable to Connecticut Children's Foundation, Inc., may be mailed to: Connecticut Children's Foundation, Inc., Attn: Memorial Gifts, PO Box 412901, Boston, MA 02241-2901. Please include In Memory Of Sophie Conti in the memo line.