WATERTOWN- With profound sadness the family of Joyce E. Sabis, 79, of Watertown, Connecticut shares news that she passed away on December 12, 2025, in the comfort of her home surrounded by her devoted family after an extended illness. Joyce was the loving mother of Christopher Sabis, who currently resides in Nashville, Tennessee, and Brian Sabis of Watertown, and widow of the late Charles Edmund Sabis, who preceded her in death in October 2022.

Joyce was born on August 19, 1946, in Waterbury, the daughter of the late Albert Emanuel and Angeline Ciarleglio, and of her stepfather the late Edward Ciarleglio. She graduated from Naugatuck High School and the University of Connecticut and earned her master’s degree in education from Southern Connecticut State University. Joyce became a beloved teacher of first and second grade at Cross Street School in Naugatuck, where she taught her entire career. When she began at Cross Street, the school was not yet finished, and she had her initial interview in a trailer during construction. Joyce married Charles and they had two sons. She devoted her life to children, both her two boys and the hundreds of students she taught, often working late into the night grading papers and writing lesson plans like so many dedicated public-school teachers. She spent most of her summers in the 90+ degree heat of Cross Street preparing for her next class, often bringing her sons to play around the school or help her prepare.

Joyce enjoyed reading, shopping with Angeline, and occasional travel. She also enjoyed her membership in a local card club and in the Watertown Customs antique car club. Joyce took her greatest joy in the accomplishments of her children and her students, watching her sons become an attorney and a decorated police officer. In her later years, she became the #1 fan of the UCONN Women Huskies Basketball Team and got to experience the joy of watching them win another National Championship in her final months. She was a devoted donor to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital.

Left to honor her legacy and cherish her memory are her sons, Chris (Marianne) and Brian; brother Frank Emanuel (Linda) of Santa Ana, California; sister-in-law, Mary Gertrude Sabis Sholtis Jones (Douglas) of Henderson, Nevada; grandchildren, Robert Edward and John Andrew Sabis of Nashville; and numerous nieces and nephews.

A Memorial Gathering to celebrate Joyce’s life will be held on Monday, December 22 from 4:00-6:00 p.m. at the Casey-O’Neill Funeral Home, 742 Main St, Oakville, CT 06779. To honor Joyce’s memory and in lieu of flowers, donations to the public-school charity, cancer charity, or autism charity of your choice would be appreciated. Loving kindness is always welcome, and it only takes a moment to offer a message of condolence, share a memory or words of comfort with the family and friends of someone that was important to you. Please do that on the funeral home tribute page at www.caseyfunerals.com.