Obituary of Carol Ravagnani

Carol Ravagnani passed away on March 1st. Born on July 29, 1949, she was the only child of Anna (Matulis) Samsel and Stanley Samsel. Born and raised in New Britain, Carol attended local schools and graduated from St. Thomas Aquinas High School in 1967. Carol knew early on in life that education was her passion and that she was born to teach. With this goal in mind, she received BS in education from Central Connecticut State University. She then went on to receive a Masters Degree, a Sixth Year Degree and a Seventh Year Degree, all from Central. In addition to a certificate in Elementary Education, she also received certification in Reading and Administration / Supervision. Carol secured a teaching position in New Britain and began her career at the Israel Putnam School. She then held positions at Roosevelt Junior High, Pulaski Middle School, Smalley Elementary School and Northend Elementary School where she served as principal. Smalley School was her favorite assignment and most of her thirty-five year career was spent in her fourth grade classroom at Smalley. She was never happier than when she was teaching, using many innovative techniques to capture her students’ interest. These sometimes unorthodox yet creative methods led to the receipt of some very prestigious awards for excellence in teaching. Carol was the recipient of Connecticut’s Celebration of Excellence Award in three separate years. She was named New Britain’s Teacher of the Year, Social Studies Teacher of the Year, CCSU’S Outstanding Alumni, and in 1990 was the recipient of the Milken Award for Excellence. Although her life revolved around teaching, Carol was fortunate to find and marry the love of her life, her husband Albert. This union provided Carol, who had no family of her own, a readymade one in Al’s three grown daughters, sons in law and grandchildren. This addition made her life complete. Carol’s interests were numerous and varied. She was an avid gardener and needle crafter and also a voracious reader. She made unique Lithuanian and Ukrainian Easter eggs to give as gifts to family and friends. Holidays were always bountiful at her home as she loved to cook and bake. No one ever left her home without enough leftovers to feed a third world nation. She also loved to write poems and no holiday was complete without her specially written, personalized graces. She loved writing and recently wrote a book about her most memorable teaching experiences. Carol and Albert enjoyed their retirement and went on numerous memorable trips. She also enjoyed fishing with Albert and spent many happy hours in Long Island Sound aboard their boat, the Holy Mackerel. Predeceased by her parents, Anna and Stanley, Carol leaves her husband Albert Ravagnani to whom she was married for twenty-five years, step daughters Darlene Makuch and her husband Thomas, Debra Setzko and her husband John, and Doreen Revoir and her husband Scott. She also leaves five grandchildren, Felix Revoir, Jenna Escales and her husband Scott, Jessica Parlapiano and her husband Phil, Kyle Setzko and Evan Setzko. She also leaves two great grandchildren, Nathan and Ryan Parlapiano. Carol was a member of St. Andrew’s Church which is part of the Holy Apostles Parish in New Britain. Funeral services for Carol will be held Friday (March 4) with a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:30AM at Holy Apostle Parish (St. Andrew’s Church) 396 Church St. New Britain. Burial will follow in St. Mary’s Cemetery 1141 Stanley St. New Britain. Visitation will be held Friday from 9:00 – 11:00 AM at the Farrell Funeral Home, 110 Franklin Sq. New Britain. Memorial donations in her name may be made to Holy Apostles Parish, 1010 Slater Road New Britain 06053 or to Central Connecticut State University, 1615 Stanley Street 06053 to be directed to the Department of Education.