Joanita Hoehn McCarthy, age 91 of Fairfield passed away Monday, July 20, 2026 in her home surrounded by family. Born in Rome, New York she was the daughter of Alfred (Past Mayor of Rome) and Marion Niece Hoehn. After marrying, she lived briefly in Oklahoma where her husband, James, was stationed. As their family grew, they moved to Fairfield to raise them. She retired as a secretary from the music department at Southern Connecticut State University, where she made many lifelong connections with students and colleagues who became her extended family. She volunteered for the Red Cross, providing disaster relief, was a volunteer driver taking people to appointments and hospital visits, volunteered at Saint Joseph’s Manor and worked in their thrift store. She was a coach at Assumption School for both girls basketball and softball, a Girl Scout leader, volunteered for Operation Hope, she made scarves, mittens, and hats for the Mittens Tree through the Newtown Police Department. Joanita had the uncanny ability to tell the same story over and over as if it was for the very first time. She was able to talk to anyone about anything for any amount of time! The longer the better! She loved reading, knitting, receiving flowers, especially daisies and spending summers in Brimfield, Massachusetts by the lake. She enjoyed her special neighbors the Dixon’s and the O’Reilly’s and was a collector of many things not wanting to ever see an empty space. Joanita is survived by her sons, Mark and Timothy, daughters, Maryhelen and Catherine, grandchildren Patrick McCarthy, Dennis DePalmer, Jake McGinley, Alex and Kenneth McCarthy. She was pre-deceased by her daughter, Claire, son Daniel, brothers, Larry, Bernard and Alfred and sister Gertrude. Funeral services will be held Friday at 11:30 AM meeting directly in our Lady of the Assumption Church, 545 Stratfield Rd., Fairfield with a Mass of Christian Burial. Interment will follow in Lawncroft Cemetery, Fairfield. Friends may call Thursday 4–7 p.m. in the Redgate Hennessy funeral Home, Main Street and Gorham Place, Trumbull. To send online condolences please visit www.redgatehennessy.com