Judith Ann Kerstetter Armstrong, affectionately known as “Nani” to her grandchildren, passed away at home on May 2, 2025 with family by her side. Judy fought a long and courageous battle with Alzheimer’s disease. She was born March 19, 1943 in Bridgeport, CT, daughter of the late Dorothy Bradley Kerstetter and Richard Carl Kerstetter. She was the wife of the late Harold Dollard Armstrong.
Judy attended Central High School in Bridgeport, Class of 1962. When growing up in Bridgeport during the 1950’s, she always talked about how much fun it was going to Pleasure Beach, The Mosque for roller-skating, and downtown for shopping. One of Judy’s first jobs as a teenager was operating an elevator in Howland’s Department Store in downtown Bridgeport. On Thursday and Friday nights, guys and gals used to go to Howland’s and ride the elevators to meet dates; that’s how Judy and Harry met. They were married on February 18, 1963 in Fairfield. They lived briefly in Fairfield and Bridgeport before purchasing their home in Ansonia in the late 1960’s. Judy was a homemaker and raised 3 children as well as taking care of her grandchildren when the time came. In 1974, when Joe Cocker came out
with “You Are So Beautiful”, Judy would always turn up the radio and say, “He wrote that song for me”. Her home was always open to friends and family and the front steps were the meeting place for much conversation and laughter. She was known for her homemade cookies, brownies, and cakes. She went all out at Christmas making cookies and fruitcake. Her cinnamon ball cookies recipe and fried chicken will be forever missed.
Survivors include her son Richard Armstrong (Ray Muszynski), Deborah Armstrong Cepeda (Mauricio), Cindy Agosto (Santos Figueroa); grandchildren Gregorio Agosto III, Mindy Agosto (Kyle Neumayer), Freddy Angelino III, Colin Cepeda, and Lucas Figueroa; 3 great-grandchildren Rhea Agosto, Logan and Wyatt Neumayer, and sisters-in-law Annette Santini and Gerry Kerstetter. Besides her husband Harry, she was predeceased by her brother Richard Kerstetter and her best friend and “partner-in-crime” Joan Balisciano. Judy’s family is especially grateful to her caregivers Christina Federici, Maria Goncalves, Leah Bursey, and VITAS Healthcare Hospice of Middlebury for their exceptional care and support during Judy’s illness.
There will be no calling hours but friends are invited to a Mass of Christian Burial at Holy Rosary Church, 10 Father Salemi Drive in Ansonia on Saturday, June 7, 2025 at 10:00am. Burial of both Judy and Harold will follow in Pine Grove Cemetery, 15 Church Street, Ansonia. In lieu of flowers donations in Judy’s name can be made to the CT Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association at www.alz.org/ct or the Alzheimer’s Association at www.alz.org. The SPINELLI-RICCIUTI FUNERAL HOME, 62 Beaver Street in Ansonia is assisting the family. To sign Judy’s guestbook or share a memory,
please visit www.spinelliricciutifh.com.
