Carolyn Ann (Burrill) Garofoli, 81, of Middletown, beloved wife of Ernest P. Garofoli for fifty-eight years, passed away at home surrounded by family on October 14, 2022. Born and raised in Claremont, New Hampshire, she was the daughter of the late Guy and Hortense (Peabody) Burrill.
After graduating from Russell Sage College with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Health, Physical Education and Recreation and General Science, and securing a Masters of Arts Degree in Education/School Counseling and a 6th year degree in School Counseling, Carolyn came to Middletown to teach. She spent two years teaching at Woodrow Wilson Middle School. With the exception of a few years, the rest were spent at Mercy High School. She gave exemplary service to Mercy High School: first as a teacher in the Physical Education Department and coach of varsity tennis, basketball and track and field, then a guidance counselor and retiring as Director of Guidance in 2016 after fifty years of unconditional service to students and the Mercy Community. In her last year before retirement, Carolyn was awarded the Catherine McAuley Award. Carolyn was always helping students who were less fortunate. It could have been a ride to or from school, a shopping trip and purchase of a prom gown, making arrangements for a college visit or sponsoring a student through scholarship. She always put her students first.
Carolyn was a member of Saint Pius X Church, a member of the Northeast Women’s Hall of Fame, ADK, a sorority for teachers and of the retired “Lunch Bunch”. She served also as a Nationally Certified Track Coach for the Special Olympics, a Certified Rape Crisis Counselor, Connecticut Sexual Assault Counselor and Children in Placement volunteer for Middlesex Superior Court for Juvenile Matters. Carolyn was also a volunteer the Bushnell Performing Arts Center, Red Cross and the Middlesex YMCA.
Carolyn will be remembered for being incredibly witty, her one liners, being a walking history book, her generosity, her support and encouragement to others and her compassion for those less fortunate.
Along with her husband, Carolyn is survived by two sons she was so proud of, David C. Garofoli and his wife Sally of Springboro, Ohio and Michael P. Garofoli of Middletown; two grandchildren whom she cherished, Alexandra Garofoli and Andrew Garofoli, both of Ohio; several nieces and nephews and many colleagues and students.
Besides her parents, she was predeceased by two siblings, Guy F. Burrill, Jr. and Nancy Sims.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday, October 20th at 10:00 am at Saint Pius X Church, 310 Westfield Street, Middletown. Burial will follow in Indian Hill Cemetery. Family and friends may call on Wednesday evening from 5:00 to 8:00 pm at the Doolittle Funeral Home, 14 Old Church Street, Middletown. In lieu of flowers, donations in Carolyn’s memory may be made to Mercy High School, 1740 Randolph Road, Middletown, CT 06457 or Shriner’s Hospital for Children, 2900 Rocky Point Drive, Tampa, FL 33607. To share memories or send condolences to the family, please visit www.doolittlefuneralservice.com.
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