Cover photo for Louise Guarnaccia's Obituary
Louise Guarnaccia Profile Photo
1949 Louise 2013

Louise Guarnaccia

January 6, 1949 — October 25, 2013

Louise Guarnaccia of Mansfield passed away on October 25, 2013. Born January 6, 1949 in Trenton, New Jersey to Herman Durr Jr. and Marguerite Driber Durr, she grew up on a dairy and crop farm in Chesterfield Township New Jersey. She completed her undergraduate work at Mercyhurst College in Erie, Pennsylvania. She earned her Masters in Public Administration from the University of Connecticut in 1981. Louise moved to Willimantic Connecticut in 1973 with her husband and best friend Giacomo Jack Guarnaccia Jr. In 1975 she was the first woman to be elected City Clerk and Treasurer of the City of Willimantic. She held that position until it was eliminated and replaced by a City Manager in 1979. In 1981 she was the first woman to be elected First Selectman of the Town of Windham. During her term, the Town of Windham and the City of Willimantic were consolidated together. She did not seek reelection at the conclusion of her second term in 1985. In 1990 Louise went to work for the Town of Manchester as Superintendent of Sanitation. She worked in Manchester for 17 years holding various positions including Field Services Administrator, Public Works Administrator and Director of Operations/Deputy Town Manager. After her retirement from Manchester she worked at the Metropolitan District Commission in Hartford as Program Controls Manager for the Clean Water Project for five years. During her career she also taught Government and Political Science classes at the University of Connecticut at Avery Point as adjunct faculty. She also ran her own consulting business for five years specializing in services to the recycling and trash industry. Louise served on many Boards and Commissions including the Willimantic YMCA, Windham Region United Way, Willimantic Community Development Agency, Windham Charter Revision Commission, Windham Hospital, St. Joseph Parish Council, St. Mary St. Joseph School Board, and St. Joseph Living Center. She was honored for her work by many organizations in Windham and Manchester. She is survived by her husband Jack; a daughter Elizabeth Namba and her husband Nicholas of Arlington Virginia; a son Anthony of Minneapolis Minnesota; much loved and adored grandsons Max and Alex Namba of Arlington; her brothers Lawrence of Chesterfield, New Jersey, James of Sykesville, New Jersey and David of Culpepper, Virginia. She is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews; grand nieces and nephews; and great grand nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her parents. Her family will receive relatives and friends on Monday Oct. 28th between 4:00 and 7:00pm at Potter Funeral Home 456 Jackson St. (Rte. 195) Willimantic. Her Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Tuesday at 10:00am at St. Joseph Church, 99 Jackson St. Willimantic with assembly at the church. Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to the Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut (Louise Guarnaccia Fund) 147 State St., New London, CT.06320, www.cfect.org , which provides money to non-traditional female students pursuing a college education; or, in lieu of a donation, spend a few hours mentoring and supporting a young woman as she strives to become the best she can be. For an online memorial guestbook, please visit www.potterfuneralhome.com .
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