Former Portland Kindergarten Teacher Dies Of Coronavirus

PORTLAND, CT — A longtime Portland resident, and former kindergarten teacher, has died from complications of the new coronavirus, according to her obituary. Philomena Petruccelli McKinstry, a Middletown native, died April 5 at the age of 93.

She was born on April 12, 1926, in her childhood home on St. Johns Street in Middletown. Philomena was one of five children born to Michael and Teresa Petruccelli (nee. Lolli), who immigrated from L’Aquila, Italy, according to her obituary at the Portland Memorial Funeral Home.

There have been 15 confirmed cases of the new coronavirus in Portland as of April 8, according to the state health department. There have been four deaths related to COVID-19, the Chatham Health District reported on Wednesday.

McKinstry graduated as class valedictorian from Middletown High School in 1944. She graduated from New Britain Teachers College (now Central Connecticut State College) with a bachelor’s degree in 1948, also as valedictorian. She received her master’s degree from Central Connecticut in 1970. She was married to Robert “Skip” McKinstry in 1951 and had four children together before divorcing, according to her obituary.

“Philomena primarily taught elementary students, first in West Hartford, CT for 4 years, then after raising her children, returned to teach for the Portland School System for 26 years, primarily as a kindergarten teacher,” the obituary reads. “She educated generations of students who remember her fondly. She believed so strongly in the power of education and delighted in watching children learn colors, shapes and letters. Philomena instituted a love of learning in her own children and her natural curiosity kept her taking classes well into her 90s.

“Besides teaching, Philomena enjoyed reading, gardening, debating politics, and spending time with her family and many friends. She adored her children and grandchildren and relished in their many accomplishments.”

Read the full obituary at the Portland Memorial Funeral Home here.