Friends, Co-Workers Plan Memorial for Milford Crash Victim

Ambrosia Bakery has become a memorial of sorts following the sudden death of 20-year-old Milford resident Morissa Barrette.

Those who knew the woman who was tragically killed in a car accident over the weekend are coming to the Devon bakery where she worked for three years, according to manager Beata Kaletka.

“People are crying,” said Kaletka, who liken Barrette to a daughter and has started a campaign for a memorial bench at Walnut Beach – “She loved the beach – anytime she could she would just go to the beach.” – to make sure she’s never forgotten.

“I cannot see that her life just ended,” Kaletka said. “I had to do something. I needed something positive coming from what happened. I want people always to remember. She was too good to forget.”

Kaletka said she once told Barrette that if she ever left Ambrosia she’d have to clone her before she gave her two weeks.

“No one can replace her,” she said.

It’s a close-knit group at the Naugatuck Avenue bakery. Many of the co-workers are also friends.

Manny Awwad graduated with Barrette from Jonathan Law High School in 2010. He started at Ambrosia about a year after Barrette did.

“I’d hate coming in here,” Awwad said, within earshot of his boss. “But then she’d say something funny and cheer me up.”

April Suchezky, another co-worker, said she got Barrette the job.

“She would really do anything for anyone,” she said.

In addition to her hours at Ambrosia, Barrette was working toward becoming a medical assistant, Awwad said. After captaining the cheerleading squad at Jonathan Law, Barrette returned to her alma mater to coach.

“She was always friendly, happy, doing something with school,” Awwad said of their shared high school days.

Kaletka, the manager, said city officials estimated the cost of the memorial bench at about $1,250. Fundraising right now is in the form of donation boxes adorned with a zebra print, a favorite of Barrette’s. There’s a box at Ambrosia and Kaletka plans to make more to share with local businesses.

Although the pain is still sharp, Kaletka said the campaign to build a memorial bench in Barrette’s honor is helping her cope with the sudden loss.

“I don’t mind coming to work because I know we’re doing something here,” she said.