Carole Antonetz

NORWALK — Carole A. Antonetz, former longtime executive director of Norwalk Emergency Shelter and passionate helper of the less fortunate, died Monday night at her home in Westport.

She was 65.

Carole passed away peacefully with her family and friends at her side following a struggle with cancer.

Born in Norwalk in 1951, the daughter of William and Josephine Antonetz, she worked at the shelter — now known as Open Door Shelter — for nearly 27 years.

She had a passion for helping people and fundraising her entire life, according to family, friends and those who worked closely with her.

Her favorite pastime was watching her grandson, Mikey, and her friends’ children play baseball. She donated her time selflessly to soup kitchens and the Norwalk Emergency Shelter on Merritt Street in South Norwalk.

As executive director of the shelter, Carole touched the lives of the less fortunate. She helped thousands of people learn new skills to get jobs.

Fundraising was her specialty. She worked with various groups that donated clothing and food. Those organizations included Adopt-A-Family and Hope Works, which clothes and trains homeless people.

Her most recent passion was Holy Smoke Hangout, a Christian outreach group for youth and young adults that meets at the East Norwalk library.

Survivors include her son Michael Antonetz of Westport, grandson Michael “Mikey” Antonetz , brother William Antonetz of Florida, sister Jean Holtman of Oklahoma, and several nieces and nephews.

Friends may greet the family on Friday from 5 to 8 p.m. at Norwalk’s Hoyt-Cognetta Funeral Home & Crematory, 5 East Wall Street.

A prayer service will take place at the funeral home on Saturday at 10 a.m. Interment will follow at Assumption Cemetery in Westport.

For more information, visit www.norwalkfh.com. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations go to Holy Smoke Hangout ( http://www.holysmokehangout.com/).