Karen Dalessio passed away peacefully in the arms of her husband Tony on October 26, 2013. Karen was born in Jamaica, Queens, NY on August 2, 1947 to Rita and Hal Riedinger. She spent her formative years growing up in Rosedale, Queens, attending the prestigious. Mary Louis Academy.
Karen considered Danbury as her real home, having spent nearly every summer of her life on Lake Candlewood at her parent’s cottage in Danbury. Karen continued her association with Danbury by attending Western Connecticut State University receiving both her Bachelor and Master Degrees in Education. She also met and married her husband Tony in Danbury and lived the remainder of her life here.
Karen’s teaching career commenced in New York State, teaching elementary school education first in Mount Kisco and the remainder of her career in the Brewster school system. Karen was considered a master teacher and began taking post grad courses in the education of the developmentally young student. She was called upon to set up the curriculum for a special program for this classification of student at The Garden Street School in Brewster.
It was during the last 17 years of her career that Karen taught the “Ungraded Primary” class at Brewster. Taking the young students who were having trouble transitioning to elementary school and giving them the gift of time, nurturing their self esteem and bringing out their true potential while accomplishing these tasks through love and positive reinforcement
Karen’s effectiveness was proven when 25% of the high school honor roll was commonly made up of her former students. Karen was beloved by those whom she touched both in the professional and private life To this day Karen was still being contacted by her students who had been successful in life and thanked Karen, stating that she was the reason for that success.
In her private life Karen truly enjoyed being by any body of water, with a special love for the ocean, with friends family and especially her grandsons. Karen is survived by her husband Tony Dalessio, daughter Lorin and son Chris Dalessio, her grandsons Ben, Seth and Ryan Utter, her brother Alan Riedinger, his wife Doris and her nieces, Heather and Amanda Rieginger.
View Full Notice → Karen A. Dalessio – August 02, 1947 – October 26, 2013