Obituary of Joan C. Mills

Joan C. (Donofrio) Mills, age 86, of East Haven passed away peacefully on Saturday, November 8, 2025 at St. Vincent's Medical Center surrounded by her loving family. She was the beloved wife of the late Donald H. Mills. Born in Bridgeport on December 21, 1938, she was a daughter of the late John D. and Margaret (Guerra) Donofrio.

Mrs. Mills was a graduate of Harding High School and later earned her master's degree from the University of Connecticut. She then began a long career as a special education teacher at John Winthrop Elementary School in Bridgeport, where she touched the lives of many over her years of dedicated service.

She was an avid fan of the New York Giants and never missed a chance to root for her team. Joan was a woman of great faith, evident as a longtime member of St. Theresa Church in Trumbull where she was proud to participate in the knitting of prayer shawls for those in need. Joan loved animals and along with her husband, had enjoyed raising parakeets and would enter them in competition. Joan's passing will leave her beloved kitty cat, Cocoa with a major void in her heart.

Survivors include her stepson, Donald Mills and his wife Kathy of North, SC, her granddaughter, Donna Mills of East Haven and her devoted sister, Laurie Macisco of Trumbull. In addition to her loving husband Donald, she was also predeceased by her brother-in-law, Albert P. Macisco.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday, November 17, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. in St. Theresa Church, 5301 Main St., Trumbull. Interment will follow in Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Trumbull. Friends may greet the family on Sunday from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. in the Abriola Parkview Funeral Home, 419 White Plains Rd., Trumbull.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the National Kidney Foundation of CT, 3000 Whitney Ave., #121, Hamden, CT 06518 or at www.kidneyct.org. For online condolences, please visit us at www.abriola.com.