Janet Carlson

Niantic - Janet (O'Brien) Carlson, 63, of Attawan Beach, Niantic, wife of John V. Carlson, passed away Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025, at Lawrence + Memorial Hospital in New London. Born in Boston, Mass., daughter of the late Bruce and Mary Ann (McGuire) O'Brien, she was a former resident of Glenview, Ill., and has lived in Attawan Beach since 1988.

A graduate of Maine North High School in Illinois, she attended the University of Illinois and received her BSN degree with honors from Northern Illinois University. Janet was the former director of nursing at Bride Brook in Niantic for ten years, retiring in 2000. She formerly worked at Yale New Haven Hospital in the oncology department, the Lawrence + Memorial ICU, and other area hospitals as a dedicated nurse. Janet was a parishioner at St. Agnes Church in Niantic.

Janet was known for her kind, loving and generous heart. She cared more for others than she did herself, and she had a strong drive to help people and ensure their needs were met. She deeply impacted those around her by always seeing the good in people. She lifted up friends and family with her genuine compassion and giddy personality. These wholesome qualities of Janet are what made her an exceptional wife, mother, family member and friend.

She leaves her loving husband John; and four children: John Carlson Jr. and his wife Colby of Navarre, Fla., Matthew Carlson and his wife Danielle of Niantic, Michael Carlson and his wife Ashly of Waterford, and a daughter, Delia Paraiso, and her husband Gavin of Nashville, Tenn; a brother, Bruce O'Brien and his wife Soula in London, England; two sisters, Alison O'Brien of Des Plains, Ill., and Amy Krupp and her husband Eric of Algonquin, Ill.; seven grandchildren: Aubrey, Michael, Aiden, Jack, Sylas, Emerald and Lucas Carlson; and many nieces and nephews.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 5, at St. Agnes Church, 22 Haigh Avenue, Niantic. Burial will follow in Mt. St. Benedict Cemetery, Bloomfield. Calling hours are from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 4, and from 9 to 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, Nov.5, at Thomas Neilan & Sons Funeral Home, 48 Grand Street, Niantic. Carlson Funeral Home, New Britain is assisting with arrangements. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to East Lyme Ambulance or to the Niantic Fire Department, or East Lyme Firefighters. Please share a memory or note of sympathy at www.carlsonfuneralhome.com.