On Tuesday, January 17, 2017, Loretto Walsh, who was 97 years old, passed peacefully. Loretto was predeceased by her husband John ('Knobby') Walsh. She was born in New Haven on December 7, 1919. Loretto leaves behind her daughter Karen Fitzgerald, her son Kevin (Jill) Fitzgerald, her grandson Walter (Shelley) Dayhoff and granddaughter Taylor Nelson, as well as her children through marriage, Kathleen (David) Drake, John (Marcie) Walsh, Jr., James (Marsha) Walsh, Karen (James) Reidy, Kelly Walsh wife of predeceased by Brian Walsh. She is also survived by her devoted friend Diana Jacome and sister-in-law Helen Bolger, wife of her predeceased brother Joseph T. Whalen. Loretto is predeceased by her other siblings; Robert W. Whalen, Maryrose Whalen, Rosemary Whalen Lyons, Jane Lyons, and Neill Whalen, her late nephew Joseph Jay Whalen, and niece Lee Whalen Coombe. She leaves behind grandchildren Elizabeth Drake (Rob) Perkins, Hadley Drake (Justin) Nixon, Courtney Drake (Nick) Farrell, Virginia Drake, Megan Walsh (Bill) Giaquinto, Meredith Walsh Aurora, Owen Walsh, Bridget Reidy, Clare Reidy, John Reidy, Deirdre Reidy, Connor Walsh, Shannon Walsh, and Ellen Walsh. Loretto is also survived by nieces and nephews Robert Rusty Whalen, Barbary (Whalen) Courier, Lisa Lyons, Edward Lyons Jr., Peter (Karen) Lyons, Christopher Lyons, Sarah Lyons, David (Peg) Lyons, Jennifer Lyons, Julie Lyons (Greg) Novak, Alicia Lyons Sturgess, Mark (Laura) Lyons, Chad Lyons, Daria Lyons (David) O'Connor, Kent Lyons, Natica Lyons, Elizabeth Lyons (Ric) Powers, Joanne Whalen Rawson, Susan Whalen Ploski, Barbara Whalen Ford, Carol Whalen McQuigg, and Joanne Fitzgerald. She is additionally survived by great-grandchildren Sophia Dayhoff, Dario Dayhoff, Isabelle Giaquinto, William Giaquinto, Evelyn Giaquinto, Ava Aurora, Peter Aurora, Luke Walsh, Emerson Nixon, Chase Nixon, Barrett Nixon, and Everett Perkins. Loretto graduated from Hillhouse High School and Quinnipiac (Larson) College. She worked for over 30 years at Connecticut Hospital Association. Loretto was a former president of the Catholic Charity League, member of the Quota Club International, and gave tireless service to FISH of Greater New Haven. Loretto was a valued friend to so many; a devoted mother, grandmother, and aunt. Friends are invited to visit with her family on Friday, January 27 from 8:30-10:30 AM at BEECHER & BENNETT, 2300 Whitney Ave., Hamden followed by a Mass of Christian Burial to be celebrated in St. Rita's Church, 1620 Whitney Ave., Hamden at 11 AM. Interment in St. Lawrence Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please send contributions to FISH of Greater New Haven, P.O. Box 8552, New Haven, CT 06531, or give online at www.fishofgreaternewhaven.org, or to the Connecticut Hospice of Wallingford, P.O. Box 90, Wallingford, CT 06492.