Joan Garbarino Passes Away at 81
Joan M. Garbarino
1939 – 2021
Born on September 4, 1939, Joan was the only child of Edwin and Marie Strong. She married Robert J. Garbarino, of Mystic in November 1957. She was immensely proud of the family they created together, raising three daughters and a son: Karen Spaulding, Lauren Yakaitis (Larry), and Robin Pettini (Norman), all live close to their family home in Mystic. On August 9, 2021, Joan joined, in eternal rest, her only son Bobby, the apple of her eye and her “hon boy”, whom she loved and adored for his sixteen wonderful years of life. “Nan” will forever be lovingly remembered by seven grandchildren and eight (and counting!) great-grandchildren: Talia Pettini-Gynther (Keith) and their sons Enzo and Vito, Lino Pettini (Caitlin) and their daughters Francesa, CaitrÃona and Sophia, Ryan Spaulding (Rebecca) and their son Eric, Paul Pettini (Jessica) and their sons Noah and Theo, Kelcey Spaulding, Zachary Yakaitis and Alec Yakaitis. Joan is also remembered fondly by her brother-in-law Eugene “Skip” Garbarino and his wife Patricia of Mystic as well as her nieces, Lisa O’Reilly (Brian) and Amy Tate (Phil) and their families, all of Florida.
For many years, Joan worked alongside her close friend and brother-in-law Skip at Puritan Laundry, a family business. She served as a Girl Scout Troop Leader for her daughters, quietly helping to mold young women into leaders. She worked together with her husband Bob to field their NASCAR modified championship race team. For fifty-five years Joan was intricately involved in managing the “Mystic Missile” team operations and scoring. The quintessential “Team Mother,” Joan made sure that “the guys” were always well fed and taken care of as they traveled each week to compete at racetracks as far west as Indianapolis, south as Daytona and north as Ontario, Canada.
Joan immensely enjoyed traveling with her husband, creating new and lasting friendships along the way. Joan and Bob skied their way through Austria, Switzerland and Italy. Her passport is also decorated with stamps from Belgium, Germany, England and Mexico. While visiting Rome in 1988, Joan and Bob were blessed to participate in a Papal Mass celebrating married couples and she was delighted to meet (now saint) Pope John Paul II. Joan spent many happy winters with her sister-in-law Pat and other good friends in Naples, Florida. She and Bob traveled extensively by motorcoach throughout the United States and became part of an active motorcoach community in Florida. Of their many wonderful travels, she spoke most fondly of the lifelong friendships and memories created during a month-long trip through the southern United States and into Mexico, where they loaded their motorcoaches onto a train and traveled for 21 days through parts of Mexico.
Joan was rarely without a knitting project and shared her passion by teaching the art to her daughters and granddaughters. Her attention to detail and artistry earned her a role as a needle and pattern tester for the Susan Bates company, but her true pride and passion was carefully selecting and lovingly crafting children’s sweaters and family Christmas stockings and knowing that they were enjoyed by those who received them.
Joan was drawn to the Catholic Church as a child, choosing, as an adult, to be confirmed as a Catholic and with her husband Bob, she raised her family in the faith. She served as a dedicated Eucharistic Minister and devoted her time year after year to keeping St. Patrick Church spotless. Her heart was warmed by each family Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation and wedding. In 2017, her family looked on with admiration and pride as she and Bob celebrated their diamond anniversary and renewed their lifelong commitment to hold and to cherish one another.
As her family formed a circle of love around her during her final days, she lovingly traded a kiss for a smile with her love of nearly 64 years.
As a lifelong learner and a member of MENSA, Joan considered education paramount and was proud that each of her children and grandchildren received an empowering, quality education. Therefore, in lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in her honor to St. Bernard School, from which each of her seven grandchildren graduated. Donations can be made to the Fund for Saint Bernard, which supports tuition assistance, by visiting https://www.saintbernardschool.org/donate.
Her family will receive relatives and friends Monday, August 16th from 4-8 pm at the Mystic Funeral Home located on Route 1 in Mystic. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at St. Patrick Church 32 East Main St. in Mystic on Tuesday, August 17th at 10 am. Following her mass, she will be buried at the Elm Grove Cemetery in Mystic.
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MEMORIAL EVENTS
AUG 16
Visitation
4:00p.m. – 8:00p.m.
Mystic Funeral Home – Mystic
Route 1 51 Williams Ave., Mystic, CT
AUG 17
Mass of Christian Burial
10:00a.m.
St. Patrick Church
32 East Main St., Mystic, CT
Funeral services provided by:
Mystic Funeral Home – Mystic
(860) 536-2888
Sources: Legacy.com
The Westerly Sun, Aug. 14, 2021