Mother Charlotte Mary

We are deeply saddened by the loss of our dear sister in Christ, Mother Charlotte Mary, on January 15, 2020. She was born on August 15, 1927 in Brooklyn, New York, to Katherine Coleman and Charles De Gennaro. 

Mother Charlotte Mary profoundly touched countless lives in the Bridgeport and Hartford County Dioceses. She established in the early 1970's the Emmaus Faith Renewal Center in New Haven, Connecticut. Emmaus was non-denominational, helping people to a deeper relationship with The Lord. Mother Charlotte was led to close the Emmaus center in 1978. She then established the Agape House of Prayer in 1985 in Bridgeport, Connecticut. The mission of Agape was to educate others in a closer relationship with The Lord and the ministry was intercession and reparation for priests and ministers. 

During both her Emmaus and Agape ministries, she conducted numerous retreats, teachings, and led pilgrimages in the United States and abroad. Also, she taught young children and teenagers about the importance of having a personal relationship with Jesus. Her enthusiasm was catching and memorable.  

She also was available to help spiritually guide souls from all walks of life. Her faithfulness to Jesus and the teachings of the Catholic Church was foremost. Her ultimate calling in life was to pray and sacrifice for the good of the priesthood. She also was close friends with deacons, seminarians and religious.

Her childhood education was the New Haven Public and Catholic schools. Her undergraduate studies were at Annhurst College where she received a B.A. education with a concentration in Theology. Continuing education was at Southern Connecticut University, Catholic University, Yale Divinity School, and Trinity College.

She became a religious on August 24, 1950 of the Daughters of the Holy Spirit in Putnam, Connecticut. Mother Charlotte received a dispensation from her vows in 1978 with discernment from her superiors to found a community with a mission which could not be integrated with that of the Daughers of the Holy Spirit. Relations with the community were most positive and supportive. Then The Lord called her to a new ministry called Emmaus. 

The Most Reverend Edward M. Egan, Bishop of Bridgeport, Connecticut, officiated her Consecration of Virgins at Agape Prayer House. 

First Corinthians tells us that we are all given certain gifts to serve the Church, and Mother Charlotte certainly made use of hers. 

She began her final ministry of prayer and presence at St. Joseph Center nursing facility, Trumbull, Connecticut in 2016. She was immensely grateful to Our Lord for the Agape ministry and lay community that she founded.

Mother Charlotte Mary was predeceased by her parents. She leaves her cousins, Agape prayer group members, her church family and a host of friends. 

Mother Charlotte for the past 4 years lived at St. Joseph's Center. We would like to thank the caregivers, the Vietnamese sisters, Margaret Lenotti, who was her constant companion and friend, all the priests who celebrated the daily masses and ensured she received her  sacraments, as well as all who visited and prayed for her, near and far.

She will be greatly missed by all who knew her. 

Friends and family are invited to attend her funeral services on Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. directly at Our Lady of the Assumption Church, 545 Stratfield Rd. Fairfield, CT. Interment on Thursday at 12:30 p.m. at St. Lawrence Cemetery, 280 Derby Ave., West Haven, CT. Friends may call on Tuesday from 4-8 p.m. at the Cyril F. Mullins Funeral Home, 399 White Plains Rd. Trumbull.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Mother Charlotte Mary, please visit our floral store.