Joanne Dowling

Naugatuck, CT Joanne Dowling peacefully passed away into eternal rest on August 26, 2024, surrounded by loving family members.

She lived a remarkable life of nearly 90 years, much of it as a beloved sister, wife, mother, and grandmother. Joanne was preceded in death by her husband, Raymond Dowling, and her sisters, Margaret Wood and Catherine Kelley.

She is survived by her children: Raymond of Chicago, IL; Thomas and his wife Susan of East Lyme, CT; Judy and her husband Rich Leask of Scottsdale, AZ; and Jennifer and her husband Bob Gilman of Hingham, MA. She was the proud grandmother, affectionately called “JoJo”, to Tommy, Matt, and Mia of Hingham, MA.

Joanne was born in Newark, New Jersey, on February 25, 1936, to the late Janet and Michael Chiffriller. She attended Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, CT where she earned a masters in education, enabling her to secure a position as an elementary school teacher in the Oxford public school system in Connecticut for 30 years. Joanne’s passion for teaching and her love for children truly shone through in her work. She left an indelible mark on those she taught, inspiring and impacting so many lives.

Joanne’s devotion to her family and faith was a central theme in her life story. She married Raymond Dowling in Naugatuck, CT, in 1961, and together they built a life in Naugatuck, sharing over 50 years of companionship and raising their family.

While supporting her husband as the Superintendent of Naugatuck schools, Joanne undertook the role of homemaker and stay-at-home mom for their children: Raymond, Tommy, Judy, and Jennifer. Joanne’s relationship with her children was deeply cherished. As a devoted mother, she played an active role in their lives, supporting their education and teaching valuable life lessons. Her capable and nurturing presence and unwavering love created a strong bond and made her the heart of the Dowling household.

Joanne was a lover of life and people. She always had time for a lighthearted chat with friends over a cup of coffee or an expertly prepared plate of food and desserts. She valued the strong and lasting relationships she developed over the years with neighbors and friends and especially delighted in annual summer getaways to Cape Cod with her family. Joanne’s infectious smile and laugh created a joyful atmosphere, making everyone feel welcome and relaxed in each other’s company.

Joanne was a devout Catholic and parishioner of St. Francis Church in Naugatuck, CT. Her quiet determination to help out and get things done for the church earned her the role of Eucharistic Minister and President of the Parish Council. This determination to “get things done” also benefited the many organizations she volunteered for, including the Susan B. Komen Foundation, Bob V. Recovery Fund, Book Drive for Children and her role as President of the PTA for several years.

Although health-related issues limited her ability to regularly attend Mass in recent years, she continually prayed and found ways to grow her faith and remain close to the Lord. Known as a loyal friend and go-to “prayer warrior,” family and close acquaintances would often lean on Joanne during times of difficulty for words of encouragement or to ask her to support them in prayer. Keeping true to her Christian faith, she was always eager to help others and lift their spirits wherever possible. You could often find Joanne on the weekends delivering and serving communion to elderly parishioners who were not able to attend church.

Her family wishes to acknowledge and give thanks to the many friends who cared for and greatly enhanced Joanne’s quality of life in her senior years, including the thoughtful care provided by the Ivy of Watertown and her personal care assistants Theresa Dunlop, her goddaughter Joan Marie McCasland, and Debbie Buckmiller. We are extremely grateful for the wonderful care, patience, and kindness extended to Joanne by these beautiful ladies, and we could not have gotten through this time without them.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, August 31, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Francis of Assisi Church, 318 Church Street, Naugatuck. Everyone attending Mass in kindly asked to please meet directly at church. Burial will follow in St. James Cemetery, Naugatuck. Calling hours will be held privately with family. To honor Joanne’s memory, contributions can be made to St. Francis of Assisi Church, 318 Church Street, Naugatuck, CT 06770. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Buckmiller Thurston Mengacci Funeral Home, 82 Fairview Avenue, Naugatuck.