Joan Lucia Avitabile, 67, died peacefully Monday January 4th surrounded by family and friends at Saint Raphael’s Hospital in New Haven.
Joan was the daughter of the late James Vincent Avitabile and Mary Papa Avitabile. She is survived by her brother James Avitabile his wife Maria their three daughters: Maria Alicia (Michael) Fernandez Lucia Lucia Elena (Robert) Mack and Carmen Gerardine (Timothy) Keslar and 8 great nieces/nephews her many beloved aunts uncles and cousins of the Avitabile and Papa families. She is also mourned by many dear friends who loved her like family.
Joan worked in the public schools and supermarkets of the area over the for almost 50 years. While attending college Joan worked as a meat wrapper to pay for her education
and continued part-time work in the supermarkets in customer service and new store set-up for many years even when she became a guidance counselor. She made close and lifelong friends with her co-workers.
When she graduated from SCSU Joan began her career in education as a 2nd grade teacher in Branford. She began to work in the New Haven Public Schools in 1969. She worked on Special Projects and then as a guidance counselor at the Sheridan Middle School. In 1975 Joan began to work at High School in the Community where she remained as the counselor and important member of the leadership group of the school for more than 20 years. Her educational philosophies were critical to the progress and strength of the school. She worked with students parents teachers central school administrators always with the belief that each individual deserved respect. She saw the goodness in everyone.
When after twenty years she left High School in the Community she served as assistant principal at Lincoln-Bassett K‑8 School and then retired. Joan later returned to work part-time at the Sound School then at the Metropolitan Business Academy and finally at CROSS CT Scholars Academy. She was responsible for guidance of the students but also played an essential role in the development of those new schools and programs. She was paid for part-time work but Joan never did anything part-time. She worked tirelessly to improve the schools for the benefit of the students of New Haven.
She was widely loved and respected by colleagues throughout the school system and by those many hundreds of students she worked with over her long career. Many credit her guidance with inspiring them to achieve leadership positions in education or to follow her path in counseling. Her compassion humor energy and vision were extraordinary. She will be greatly missed.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Friday morning at 9:30 in St. Vincent de Paul Church Taylor Ave. East Haven. Entombment will follow in St. Lawrence Cemetery Mausoleum. There are no calling hours. Arrangements are with the Clancy Funeral Home 43 Kirkham Ave. East Haven.
Donations in her honor can be made to the New Haven Scholarship Fund P.O. Box 8936 New Haven Ct. 06532 – 8936 or online at [email protected] . www.clancyfuneral.com
There is also a Facebook memorial page here.
The world has lost one of it's brightest stars. It has been over 20 years since I sat on that couch in her office at HSC, but her words and kindness still resonate. She touched and helped many yet asked for nothing in return.