Joan F. (Fredenburg) Cariglia

Joan “Joanie” Cariglia, passed away peacefully at home on June 16, 2022, surrounded by her loving family and caregivers

Joan was born May 24, 1931, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the daughter of George and Helen (Toomey) Fredenburg. She attended Somerset High School (Class of 1949) and Fitchburg State Teachers College (Class of 1953). On April 19, 1954, she married the love of her life, Michael A. Cariglia, celebrating 67+ years together until his death in September 2021.

Joan began teaching Kindergarten and First Grade in Mansfield Public Schools in 1966. She received her Master’s in Education in May of 1972 from the University of Connecticut and continued teaching until her retirement in 1987. Joan was a 50-year member of Delta Kappa Gamma Society International and continued her friendships with many of her fellow teachers, even spending her 91st birthday playing cards with 3 of them!

Joan was an amazing artist! She painted throughout her life. In her retirement she attended classes, won awards and gifted her beautiful work to her friends.

After 30 years of living in Jupiter, Florida and Mashpee, Massachusetts, Joan settled in Mansfield so that she could be close to her children. When not at one of their homes Joan (and Mike) were travelling: across the USA, cruising the Caribbean and taking long trips throughout Europe. Italy was their favorite destination, from Sicily to the Adriatic, to the northern lakes and to their favorite-Positano on the Amalfi Coast.

Joan is survived by her daughter Lisa and her husband Greg Young of Storrs, her son Gregory, of Mansfield and her grandson Michael, of Brooklyn, New York, her daughter-in-law Judy of Columbia, as well as 3 grand dogs. She was predeceased by her husband Michael in 2021 and her son Jeffrey in 1997.

Joan also leaves behind her sister Fredi Verdesca of Naples, Florida and sister-in-law Joann Fredenburg Grant of Silver Springs, Maryland and best friends Jeanne Morascini and Claire Delekta, her adopted daughter Sara Brisson and many nieces, nephews, neighbors and friends.

There are no services scheduled at this time. Those wishing to remember and honor Joan can do so by making a contribution to the M. Jeffrey Cariglia Memorial Golf Scholarship at the University of Connecticut. Checks should be made out to the UConn Foundation with M. Jeffrey Golf Scholarship in the memo and mailed to Husky Athletic Fund, 211 Hillside Road, Storrs, CT, 06269 or contributions can be made to Shaggy Dog Rescue at www.houstonshaggydogrescue.org. Joan was always a kind and generous person supporting many charities and these are two of her favorites.

The family wishes to thank Royal Home Care’s amazing team and Hartford Healthcare at Home Hospice Care for their support and loving care.  For an online memorial guestbook please visit www.potterfuneralhome.com.

“What’s the best gift given to me?

It took only a moment for me to see.

It’s my one and only precious life.

Mostly happy, sometimes strife.

There are highs and lows to be sure.

But each one opens a different door.

Some twists and turns along the way.

Yet always thankful for another day.

Never found a pot of gold

But garnered friends both young and old.

I learned what life was all about.

Of this I’ve never had a doubt.

It’s my love for you and yours for me.

Our blessed shared humanity!”

-by Janice Salois

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