Stratford Woman, 31, Relative Of Lucille Ball, Dies Of Cancer

STRATFORD, CT — A 31-year-old Stratford woman who was the great-granddaughter of 1950s TV icons Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz Sr. died last month after a years-long battle with breast cancer.

Desiree S. Anzalone died Sept. 27 at Smilow Cancer Hospital in New Haven, according to her obituary. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2014 and underwent chemotherapy and a double mastectomy, before facing a second bout of the illness in 2017, the Connecticut Post reported.

Anzalone’s mother, Julia Arnaz, told the Post that Anzalone wanted to raise awareness about how breast cancer can affect people of all ages, including young women. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Born in Norwalk, Anzalone was an “old soul” who loved music from the 1960s and 1970s, her obituary said. She was an artist, who enjoyed singing, songwriting, playing multiple instruments, poetry and photography. She loved animals.

Anzalone was both proud to be Ball and Desi Arnaz Sr.’s great-granddaughter, and also humble about her relation to the “I Love Lucy” stars, according to the Post.

Her family met friends Oct. 3 at Dennis & D’Arcy – Abriola & Kelemen Funeral Home.

Anzalone is survived by her father, Mario Anzalone, and stepmother, Nancy; her mother and her stepfather, Halbert Massey; her maternal grandmother, Susan Callahan Howe, and maternal grandfather, Desi Arnaz Jr.; her paternal grandmother, Carol Anzalone; her paternal great-grandmother, Marjorie Broadhurst; her fiancé and caregiver, Chris Reynolds; an uncle and three aunts; and four stepbrothers. In addition to Ball and Desi Arnaz Sr., she was predeceased by her paternal grandfather, Mario Anzalone Sr.