Carol Ruggiero OBITUARY

Carol (Leroux) Ruggiero, 74, of Windsor Locks, beloved wife of almost 50 years to Gary Ruggiero passed away peacefully on Thursday, April 4, 2024, at home with her family by her side after an over 20-year courageous battle with neuro-endocrine cancer. She was born on April 8, 1949, in San Diego, CA; the eldest child of the late J. Conrad and Wren (Buckland) Leroux.

Carol graduated from Windsor Locks High School in 1968. She worked at W.T. Grant’s store and C. Bruno for a number of years before staying home to raise her children. Once her children entered school, she began working as a secretary, lunch aide, and paraprofessional in the Windsor Locks elementary schools. She volunteered many years for the PTO (including many as President) and the WLHS Music Department (chaperoning many trips to FL and VA, assisting at Nutmeg Show Choir Festivals, and organizing annual fundraisers). She worked as a secretary for the Windsor Locks Water Pollution Control Authority for a few years, before being hired as the Administrative Assistant of Records for the Windsor Locks Police Department, retiring at the end of January after 25 years of dedicated service. She served as Union President and on the contract negotiation team for many of those 25 years. Carol belonged to the Windsor Locks Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary for almost 50 years, (including many years as President), assisting at many fire scenes, open houses, carnivals, and blood drives. She helped coordinate “Project Elf” in town for many years, collecting and distributing holiday gifts for numerous families in need. Carol impacted innumerable lives in town in her time on earth.

Carol is survived by her husband Gary, her two children, Nicole Ruggiero and Anthony Ruggiero and his wife Coral all of Windsor Locks; her two cherished grandchildren, Gianna and Leo Ruggiero; her sister Evy Kaplan and her husband Fred; sister-in-law Gale Fay and her husband Charlie, sister-in-law Diane Leroux, and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends that seemed more like family. She was predeceased by her brother Connie Leroux, and in-laws Dominick and Grace Ruggiero.

Carol’s family will receive relatives and friends on Wednesday, April 10, 2024 from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Windsor Locks Funeral Home, 441 Spring St, Windsor Locks. A funeral procession will gather at the funeral home on Thursday, April 11, 2024 at 9:00 a.m. for a Mass of Christian Burial to be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. at St Mary Church, 42 Spring St, Windsor Locks, CT. Burial will follow in St Mary’s Cemetery. Donations may be made to Windsor Locks Volunteer Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary, 2 Volunteer Drive, Windsor Locks, CT 06096. For online condolences, please visit www.windsorlocksfuneralhome.com.