Following is the obituary for MARYLOU BELL, submitted for the family by the Harding Funeral Home.

.   .   .

MaryLou Bell, 83, of Westport, died Thursday June 30, 2022, peacefully at home surrounded by her loving family.

MaryLou was born in Norwalk to the late Patsy and Antonette Doddo. She was the eldest of three daughters and a life-long Westport resident. She graduated from Staples High School in 1956.

MaryLou was a well-loved and respected local banker. She began her banking career with the Westport Bank & Trust Co. while in high school, often telling stories of sun-bathing on her lunch breaks with fellow employees on the roof of the downtown building, which is now home to Patagonia. She amassed a loyal customer base during her career, which would faithfully follow her to the newest bank branch in her capacity as branch manager, AVP.

Throughout the years, she worked with Connecticut Bank & Trust, the Bank of Darien, the Bank of Westport and many others, ending her career in 2012 at Fairfield County Bank.

She enjoyed her annual New York City outings with her network of bank colleagues, taking in Broadway shows and dinner. Her vacations in North Truro on Cape Cod were very special to her. 

She volunteered her time at the Westport Sons of Italy’s Festival Italiano, the Westport PAL’s Annual Memorial Golf Tournament and was a member of the Westport Sunrise Rotary Club. 

She was very active in local politics during the 1970s and 1980s as a member of the Republican Town Committee and Save Westport Now. 

She had multitudes of friends, co-workers and customers whom she loved very much. She always enjoyed spending time at the Westport Center for Senior Activities and sharing laughs with her friends and family. She was fiercely independent, a straight-shooter and was never afraid to express her thoughts to others. MaryLou lived life “her way.”

MaryLou’s family would like to thank her exceptional caregivers Millie and Thomasine for providing friendship along with compassionate care during the years MaryLou was not able to care for herself.

MaryLou is survived by her daughter, Kathy Santarella and husband Scott of Westport; son, Bob Stephens and wife Marybeth of Suffolk, Va.; her six grandchildren, Jordan and Jamie Santarella, and Wesston, Tyler, Ashley and Will Stephens; her sister and brother-in-law, Annette and A.J. Izzo of Westport, and her brother-in-law, Ray Barry and his wife Linda of Fairfield. She is also survived by many cousins (especially her “ABC” cousins) and many cherished nieces and nephews.

MaryLou was preceded in death by her spouse of 35 years, William E. Bell, in 2000, and her youngest sister, Angela M. Doddo, in 2001.

Friends may greet the family on Wednesday, July 6, from 4-7 p.m., at the Harding Funeral Home, 210 Post Road East. A Mass of Christian Burial will celebrated at the Church of the Assumption, 98 Riverside Ave., on Thursday July 7, at 10 a.m. Entombment will follow at Willowbrook Cemetery, 395 Main St. 

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in MaryLou’s memory to ­­­­the American Heart Association or to the charity of your choice.