Carol A. Mastroianni, 88, Longtime Teacher, Gardener, Animal Lover

Carol A. Mastroianni, 88, of Westfield, New Jersey, passed away on Wednesday, May 7, 2025.

Born in Allentown, Pennsylvania, in 1937, Carol graduated from Hazleton High School and went on to earn both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Penn State University.

A dedicated educator, Carol taught first grade at Franklin Elementary School in Westfield for over 30 years, touching the lives of countless students with her warmth, sense of humor, patience, and enthusiasm for learning.

Beyond the classroom, Carol was a Master Gardener who found great joy in tending her plants, caring for her beloved cats, and sharing laughter and conversation with friends and family. She had a passion for international travel and formed enduring friendships with people she met in Scotland. She also loved to attend Broadway shows in New York City. Deeply committed to helping others, Carol generously volunteered her time tutoring and supporting immigrant families in her community.

In 2020, she moved to the Brighton Gardens community in Columbia, Maryland, to be closer to family. Carol was preceded in death by her brother, George Mastroianni. She is survived by her nieces and nephews: Carol Bledsoe; Rick and Laura Mastroianni; Patti and Keith Elliott; Andy Mastroianni; their children and grandchildren; her sister-in-law, Nancy Mastroianni; and her cousins, Lynn Harrington, Lenny Kucinski, Marlon Kucinski, Celeste Kucinski and Gina Whalen. She also leaves other family members and friends who will sadly miss her.

A Memorial Mass will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, June 10, 2025, at St. Helen’s Roman Catholic Church in Westfield, N.J.

In lieu of flowers, and in honor of Carol’s lifelong compassion for animals, donations in her memory can be made to the Humane Rescue Alliance.

June 5, 2025