Waterbury, Connecticut, will celebrate its Italian American heritage this week by honoring Sister Patricia Jamele as the city’s Italian Mayor for the Day, a recognition organized by the local chapter of UNICO.
The celebration will take place Friday, October 9, beginning at 9 a.m. with Mass at Our Lady of Lourdes Church on South Main Street. Participants will then process to Waterbury City Hall, where the public ceremony will be held in the front piazza. A reception at Veterans Memorial Hall will follow.
For Sister Patricia, the recognition has particularly deep local roots. Born in Waterbury, she attended Barnard Grade School and graduated from Waterbury Catholic High School before entering the Congregation of Notre Dame in Bourbonnais, Illinois. She later returned to education in her hometown, teaching English at Waterbury Catholic High School and Holy Cross High School.
Her commitment to young people continued well beyond the classroom. After spending years working in school guidance, Sister Patricia retired from the education system but remained actively involved in the community. Today, she leads support groups at Our Lady of Mount Carmel School and serves on several school boards and foundations.
The Italian Mayor for the Day tradition offers Waterbury’s Italian American community an opportunity to recognize people whose service has strengthened the city while celebrating the heritage shared by generations of local families.
With Sister Patricia Jamele as this year’s honoree, Waterbury UNICO is highlighting a life devoted to education, faith and community service – values deeply connected to the history of the city’s Italian American community.
