Avon Obituary: June Sponzo, 85

June Filomena (Ferraina) Sponzo, 85, of Avon—an angel to all who knew her, with a smile that lit up a room—passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving family on January 17, 2017.

Born in Hartford on June 24, 1931, she was the loving daughter of Anthony and Louise (Squatrito) Ferraina. June attended Hartford schools through 11th grade and graduated from Windsor High School in 1949. Following her graduation, she completed secretarial school and served in the insurance industry as an executive secretary for 15 years at the Connecticut Mutual Insurance Co./Mass Mutual Insurance Co. in Hartford.

Aside from her career, June's true passion in life was helping others whenever she could. At 14, she volunteered as a Blue Bird at Hartford Hospital and later in life at the Newington Children's Hospital. June continued to touch lives with her sweet kindness and gentle heart, working as a counselor to battered women for 2 years, and at the American Cancer Society for 3 years.

Retirement from her administrative career did not stop this angel from continuing to give support and love to others as she began volunteering at the UConn John Dempsey Hospital in 1997. Her award-winning smile greeted visitors at the Information Desk, and after proving herself to be a most valuable ambassador of the hospital, she was presented with the Volunteer of the Month Award in 2000.

June resided in Farmington Woods in Avon and was an active member of St. Mary's Star of the Sea Church in Unionville. She was also active in the Farmington Woods Women's Club since 1996, and she served as President from 2001-2003. June also enjoyed frequent exercise at Healthtrax of Avon, where she participated in water aerobics and spinning classes.

June was an angel in the truest sense of the word, always smiling and spreading love to every life she touched. She will always be remembered for her quick wit and selfless compassion, and she will be dearly missed by all who were fortunate enough to know her. Her legacy of love will forever live on in her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

June leaves her brother, Daniel Ferraina and his wife Alice of Windsor, and a sister-in-law, Joanne Ferraina. June is also survived by the greatest joys in her life—her five children, Rosanne Civittolo and her husband Joseph of Simsbury, Luanne Woytowick of Simsbury, Nancy Murray and her husband Gerry of Leominster, MA, Tom Sponzo and his wife Jan of Windsor, and Frank Sponzo and his wife Debbie of East Granby. She was a proud grandmother to eleven grandchildren; Robert Collum, Sean Murray, Kristen McEachern, Tim Murray, Kelly Murray, Ana Woytowick, Brett Sponzo, Stephanie Sponzo, Jennifer Dyer, Tony Sponzo, Kelly Mogensen; and nine great-grandchildren. All of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren brought her much joy and happiness, and she loved and cherished them every day of her life. She also leaves several beloved nieces, nephews and cousins. In addition to her parents, June is predeceased by her sister and brother-in-law, Janet and Pat Tomaro of Florida, and her brother, Dominic Ferraina of Windsor.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10AM on Monday, January 23 at St. Mary Star of the Sea Church, 145 Main St., Unionville. Burial will follow the service at Mt. St. Benedict Cemetery, Bloomfield. June's family will receive friends on Sunday, January 22 from 2-5PM at the Carmon Funeral Home & Family Center, 301 Country Club Road, Avon.

Donations may be made in June's honor to the National Stroke Association, 9707 East Easter Lane, Suite B, Centennial, CO 80112, or to the American Cancer Society, 825 Brook St., 1-91 Tech Ctr., Rocky Hill, CT 06067.

For online condolences or to share a memory of June with the family, please visit www.carmonfuneralhome.com.