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Florence Jean Carbonell, 88, of Ridgefield; New Canaan Teacher

RIDGEFIELD, Conn. -- Florence Jean Carbonell, 88, of Ridgefield, a former teacher in New Canaan, died on Monday, Jan. 2, at Danbury Hospital of congestive heart failure.

Florence Jean Carbonell

Florence Jean Carbonell

Photo Credit: Contributed

She was the wife of John Carbonell. Jean was born Feb. 20, 1928 in Philadelphia, the daughter of George and Florence (Reed) Malloy. She grew up in Philadelphia and was predeceased by her brother, George.

She received a Bachelors Degree in Education from Temple University. While at Temple, Jean met John. More specifically, she spilled a cup of hot coffee on him, and the rest was history. They married in 1952 and would have celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary this year.

Jean and John lived in California, Michigan, Texas, Illinois, and Pennsylvania. They moved to New Canaan in 1978 and then to Ridgefield about 18 years ago.

Carbonell began her teaching career in California and later taught in Pennsylvania and Connecticut. She retired from West School in New Canaan in 1993. After retirement, she became a teacher at the New Canaan First Presbyterian Church Nursery School.

In addition to her husband John, she is survived by daughters, Carol Gardell and her husband John of Ridgefield; Nancy Schneider and her husband Bruce of Ridgefield; John Carbonell and his wife Karen of Huntersville, N.C.; George Carbonell and his wife Eileen of Gaithersburg, Md. and Jim Carbonell and his wife Julie of Danville, Calif. She is also survived by 13 grandchildren: Jenny Carbonell, Kevin Carbonell, Christy Carbonell Lord, JP Gardell, George Carbonell, Tim Gardell, Maria Gardell, Geoffrey, Alec and Erin Schneider, and Jack, Will and Matt Carbonell. She is also survived by three great-granddaughters.

The family will receive friends at the Kane Funeral Home, 25 Catoonah St., Ridgefield on Saturday, Jan. 7 from 11:30 A.M. to 12:30 P.M. A service will take place on Saturday at 12 noon in the funeral home.

Contributions in Carbonell’s memory may be made to Rides for Ridgefield, 400 Main St., Ridgefield, CT 06877. Rides for Ridgefield provides seniors and those with mobility disabilities access to transportation so they can continue activities and services needed to maintain quality of life.

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