Margaret B. Viggiano, beloved wife of the late Carlo N. Viggiano, died peacefully at her home on December 19, 2021, surrounded by her family. She was born January 16, 1925, the daughter of the late Nora Mae and Clifford Brooks of Moodus, CT.
She graduated from the Middlesex Memorial School of Nursing, where she became a Registered Nurse in 1944. However, WWII brought extreme challenges to the healthcare system in our country, especially in the nursing arena. Upon, passing her nursing boards, she immediately joined the United States Cadet Nurse Corps, which was a program by which Congress was able to successfully halt an impending collapse of the nation’s health system. These nurses were members of the US uniformed service and provided 80 percent of all military and civilian nursing care in our nation. Each of these nurses swore an oath to serve “for the duration of the war” not knowing when it would end.
She continued her education at St. Joseph’s College, earning her BSN, while working at area hospitals. In 1946, she became a school nurse in Old Saybrook, CT, where she met her future husband, Carlo. They married in 1948, enjoying over 42 years together. Margaret was a loving, caring wife, mother, sister, aunt, and grandmother. She cherished her family above everything, but always maintained a sense of independence, a loyalty to her town and country, and a spirit of adventure. In the sixties, she became one of Old Saybrook’s first policewomen and was proud to still have her shield (#41) in her late nineties. She continued to practice nursing, retiring from Dominion Millstone Nuclear Power Station at the age of 85. Not to be one left with nothing to do, she increased her time serving on numerous Old Saybrook town committees, including serving as the Vice-chair of the Republican Town Committee for several years, and serving on the Public Health Nursing Board, Youth and Family Services, the Riverside Cemetery Board, just to name a few.
She enjoyed travels to the Caribbean, Europe, and US National Parks snowmobiling with her husband, Carlo, and later with friends after his death.
She had a subtle way of bestowing her wisdom on us through the years in a way that we deeply appreciated.
In addition to her husband, Margaret was predeceased by her brother, Donald Brooks of Old Saybrook. She is survived by her daughters, Candy Marien of Westbrook and MaryEllen Viggiano of Niantic, and her very special granddaughter, Cory Marien of Columbia.
Margaret was a beautiful lady who will be deeply missed. A special thank you to all who cared for her these past few years, allowing her to stay in her own home, but mostly to Pat Manning, who was her friend, confidant, and trusted sidekick right up until the end.
There will be calling hours at Swan Funeral Home on Old Saybrook on Tuesday, December 28, 2021 from 5 PM until 8 PM. Funeral services will be at St. John’s Church In Old Saybrook at 11 AM, Wednesday, December 29, 2021.
Contributions can be made to the charity of one’s choice or to Old Saybrook Ambulance Service or to St. John’s School In Old Saybrook.
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Margaret B. Viggiano, please visit our floral store.
Old Saybrook Ambulance Association
316 Main Street, Old Saybrook CT 06475
Tel: 1-860-388-0161
St. John School
42 Maynard Road, Old Saybrrok CT 06475
Tel: 1-860-388-0849
Email: principal@saintjohnschoolos.org
Web: http://www.saintjohnschoolos.com/