In Loving Memory of Etta Kazlauskas

It is with great sadness that the Kazlauskas family shares the passing of Etta Kazlauskas, who left this world peacefully on December 8, surrounded by the people she loved most — her son Marc, daughter-in-law Tracy, and her grandchildren Sydney, Harrison, Alec, and Tatum.

Etta was a Brooklyn original — forged in tight quarters, loud conversations, and a one-room home shared with her sisters Myrna, Davina, and Arlene. As the youngest, her parents Jenny and Irving liked to joke that she had it easy once the others moved out. The truth is, nothing about Etta was easy — it was earned. She had grit, heart, and that unmistakable Brooklyn edge that told you she’d seen enough of life to know what mattered and what didn’t.

She cut her teeth in the New York garment industry before settling into a lifelong career as a bookkeeper — the quiet engine behind countless retail businesses, keeping things honest, balanced, and moving forward. She made homes in New York, Connecticut, and Florida, collecting stories, friendships, and memories along the way.

Florida is where she found her happy place. In Auburndale, she found her rhythm — a tight circle of friends, long card games, endless laughs, and a community that felt like home. Playing Hand and Foot with her crew was serious business: competitive, animated, loud in the best possible way — her kind of evening.

Etta is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Marc and Tracy Kazlauskas of New Canaan, Connecticut; her grandchildren Sydney, Harrison, Alec, and Tatum; Harrison’s fiancé Madison Lay and her sister Myrna Levenhar. She was predeceased by her sisters Davina and Arlene, and by her ex-husband, Kenneth Kazlauskas.

Etta loved the good stuff — real food, real people, real laughter. She welcomed everyone, spoke her mind, and made no apologies for being exactly who she was. Her Brooklyn accent, sharp wit, and fierce loyalty made her unforgettable. She didn’t just enter a room — she changed it.

She will be missed — deeply, loudly, and forever.

For those attending the graveside burial please meet at 10:45am on December 20 2025 (please be prompt) at:

Hoyt Funeral Home

199 Main Street

New Canaan, Connecticut 06840

We will proceed together to Lakeview Cemetery New Canaan, Connecticut

There will be a celebration of life following at:

Chef Luis Restaurant

129 Elm Street

New Canaan, Connecticut

In lieu of flowers or food the family has requested a donation be made in Etta’s name to the National Kidney Foundation www.kidney.org 

For online condolences please visit www.hoytfuneralhome.com