Patricia McCarthy

Patricia was born on May 28, 1947 in Kittery, Maine, the daughter of the late William H. and Rita Ella (Jarvis) Phoenix. She was predeceased by her husband, Jack, to whom she was married for nearly 30 years. She missed Jack terribly after his death and the family is comforted knowing that they are together once again.

Patricia was a graduate of Norwich Free Academy and earned her Associates Degree in General Studies at Three Rivers Community College. She also worked for 30 years in the Montville school system, retiring as a paraprofessional at the Leonard J. Tyl Middle School in Montville, Connecticut.

Family was most important to her. With her husband deployed in the Navy for long stretches of time, Patricia spent many years running the household and making her daughters the center of her universe. She was very active in their activities, often chaperoning field trips, managing softball teams, camping with Girl Scouts, serving as PTA President and watching performances of the UConn Husky Marching Band. She enjoyed physical activity and could be seen jogging around the neighborhood, attending Jazzercise classes, or walking her beloved dog Brandy often stopping along the way to meet a new furry friend. With a creative streak and an artistic flair, she enjoyed collecting sea glass, drawing, crocheting, macrame, flower arranging, beading, and gardening. The role she was most proud of was that of grandmother to her five grandchildren. “Gammy” was always on-call to babysit and could be found front and center at every concert, ball game, dance recital, swim meet or special ceremony. After her retirement she was devoted to caring for her mother. In recent years Pat lived a quiet life. She was an avid reader and loved a good mystery.

Patricia is survived by her daughter Maureen Mastroianni and husband Joseph of Glastonbury, Connecticut, and their children Matthew, Madelyn and Juliana, and by her daughter Christine Miller and husband Scott of South Glastonbury, Connecticut, and their children Max and Stephanie. Her grandchildren are missing their Gammy very much.

She is also survived by her sister Marianne Malafronte and husband John of Norwich, Connecticut, and their son Michael and wife Katie, and by her sister Linda Carey and husband Patrick of Charlestown, New Hampshire and their sons Timothy, Joseph and Walter and by her sisters-in-law Sr. Mary Ann McCarthy, Rita O’Dwyer and her husband Robert and Theresa Dean and her husband Lloyd along with many nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents and her husband, Patricia was predeceased by her sister Shirley Marie Phoenix and sister-in-law Elizabeth Marion and her husband Ed.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Patrick Cathedral, 213 Broadway, Norwich, Connecticut on Wednesday, June 22 at 1 pm. Everyone is asked to meet directly at the Cathedral. Calling hours and burial will be private for the immediate family.

Memorial donations in Patricia’s memory may be made to the American Heart Association.

The Labenski Funeral Home, 107 Boswell Avenue, Norwich, Connecticut is entrusted with the arrangements, and messages of condolence for Patricia’s family may be left at www.labenskifuneralhome.com