Joan Fortuna's Obituary
Joan (Sabourin) Fortuna, 78, of Stafford Springs, CT, loving wife of Andrew Fortuna, Jr., died Monday, October 1, 2012 after a long pulmonary illness. Joan was born October 20, 1933 in Stafford Springs, CT, to the late Laura (Taylor) and Wilfred Sabourin. Her father was the former chief of the Stafford Fire Department. Joan was an only child. She attended St. Edward School in Stafford Springs, CT and graduated from Stafford High School in 1951, where she served as class secretary. She went on to work at the University of Connecticut for the Dean of Agriculture as his secretary. She married Andrew Fortuna, Jr. of Rockville, CT at St. Edward Church on October 5, 1957. Joan was a homemaker while her husband worked in the engineering department at Pratt and Whitney Aircraft for 38 years. She took great pride in the accomplishments of her three children. Her daughter, Carolyn Fortuna, of Chepachet, RI, who is married to Stephen Hanley, is a qualitative teacher researcher and English high school teacher in Franklin, MA. Her son, Thomas, of Stafford Springs, CT, who is married to Lora (Bassett), is a brazier at Pratt and Whitney. Her other son, Steven, lives in Newburyport, MA, and works in Information Technology as a systems engineer. Joan's interests included family, gardening, and visiting Cape Cod. She devoted much of her time and energy as a caregiver to family members, including her mother, who passed away at age 91. She was a member of St. Edward Parish, and past member of the West Stafford Fire Department and the St. Edward Ladies Auxiliaries. Besides her husband and three children, Joan is survived by two grandchildren, Ashley (Fortuna) Lewis and Ethan Fortuna. Her funeral will be held on Friday, October 5, 2012, with a procession forming by 10 A.M. at Introvigne Funeral Home, Inc., 51 East Main St., Stafford Springs, CT, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11 A.M. at St. Edward Church, High St., Stafford Springs, CT. Burial will follow in St. Edward Cemetery, Stafford Springs, CT. Calling hours are on Thursday from 5-7 P.M. at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. Edward Church, 6 Benton St., Stafford Springs, CT 06076. For online condolences or directions, please visit: www.introvignefuneralhome.com
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