Obituaries

Joan May Balsamo Stanislawski, of Milford Public Schools, dies at age 70

Ms. Stanislawski was a grief counselor for widows and widowers, counseled abused women at a women's abuse shelter. She volunteered at Milford Hospital for many years, was active at the Milford Library and belonged to the classic Book Club.

 

Joan May Balsamo Stanislawski, age 70, died on Monday, January 28, 2013 in Milford Hospital. A lifelong Milford resident, she was born on May 24, 1942, second child of the late Henry and Ruth Balsamo.

She attended Milford Public schools. Ms. Stanislawski was a graduate of South Central Community College, class of 1992, with high honors in an Associates’ Degree in Human Services. She also attended Southern Connecticut State University.

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Ms. Stanislawski began working at the Milford Board of Education in September of 1975 as secretary at Joseph A. Foran High School. After 10 years, she became secretary to the subject coordinators and went on to become Administrative Assistant for the Assistant Superintendent for Business. A large part of her job in that position was as Transportation Coordinator. She retired in July 2000.

During her position, she served on the safety committee, where along with other members analyzed safety issues in the various schools. After retirement, she worked for five years as a job counselor for Sarah, Inc., working with people with disabilities to prepare and perform on the job training.

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She also worked as substitute secretary for the Milford and Westport Public Schools. In her lifetime, she was a grief counselor for widows and widowers, counseled abused women at a women’s abuse shelter. She was a long time member of St. Agnes Church in Milford, where she volunteered on the Social Action Committee, prolife committee and served as Eucharistic Minister.

She volunteered at Milford Hospital for many years, was active at the Milford Library and belonged to the classic Book Club.

Ms. Stanislawski leaves two children and their spouses: Donna McCarthy and son-in-law William McCarthy of Milford, and Mark Stanislawski and daughter-in-law Diane Rioux Stanislawski of West Haven,a brother Ron Balsamo of West Haven, a sister Gloria F. Martell of Groton and four grandchildren: Samantha and Loren Stanislawski and Dylan and Jarret McCarthy, many nieces, nephews and friends. Besides her parents, she was predeceased by her loving husband Peter Stanislawski, who passed away on September 9, 1966.

She was also predeceased by her sisters Virginia Norton Miller Allendorf and Ruth Marie Balsamo Orzechowski.

Calling hours are Thursday, January 31, 2013 from 4 to 6pm at the Smith & Sefcik Funeral Home, 135 Broad St., Milford.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, February 1st at St. Agnes Church, 400 Merwin Ave., Milford at 11am. Interment will follow in Mt. Saint Peters Cemetery, Derby Ave., Derby.

Donations may be made in her name to the America Cancer Society, 2080 Silas Deane Highway, 2nd Floor, Rocky Hill, CT 06067 or Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, 185 Silas Deane Highway, Wethersfield, CT 06109.


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