Joan D. Wrightington

Joan "Joanne" Delores (DiCarlo) Wrightington, 86, of Fall River, passed away on Sunday, March 8, 2026, at St Anne's Hospital. She is survived by: three children, Steve P. Wrightington of Fall River, Charles G. Wrightington of Cumberland, RI, and Tammy Machado of Westport; one granddaughter, Grace Elizabeth Machado; and several nieces and nephews. She loved them unconditionally. Her memory is and always will be a blessing to them.

Joanne was born in Fall River, the youngest child of Nicola & Josephine (Lancellotta) DiCarlo. She was fiercely proud of her Italian American heritage and her parents who emigrated to the Unites States from Fornelli-Campobasso in 1911.

Her father, Nicola, worked as a laborer performing various odd jobs to provide for his family. An Italian speaker, he could neither read nor write in his native tongue. He was a man of slender financial means – a fact underscored by the 1930's Census documenting that Nicola did not own a "radio set." He and Josephine rented space on Healy Street, Ward 5, Block 22 for $9.00 a month. Eventually, they rented on Johnson Street where they raised seven children.

Joanne was the youngest. She came into the world a "blue" baby. Knowledge of her precarious entry into this world led to her belief that for everyone, even newborns, time lived is the only true wealth we possess. The experience of a new day is pure gift that comes with no guarantee. That is why she always prayed for and never forgot nieces, nephews, and loved ones who left this world too soon.

Her father and mother also gave her love for the ocean at a very young age. She felt renewed in saltwater, found solace in the repetitive sound of ocean waves, and stood in awe at the depth and breadth of this powerful force that could be experienced but never contained. It shaped and formed her understanding of God as a powerful healer and consoler. She cherished memories of holding the hands of her father, her siblings and her best friend, Theresa Logozzo Tidwell, and "jumping the waves" at Horseneck beach. Her love for the beach was shared with her daughter, Tammy, and granddaughter, Grace. For years, they spent summers in Newport, enjoying sand and sun, Flo's clam shack, and Clements' Marketplace.

Joanne worked as a homemaker/health aide for Southeastern Health. She also worked as a teacher's assistant in early childhood daycare. During this time, she was devoted to and inspired by St. Martha's life of service. Saint Martha taught her that work was a manifestation of her faith. All love – including divine love – manifests itself through imperfect human hands and human hearts. Joanne's work was her way of praying.

She also took great joy in watching her granddaughter grow from an infant into a beautiful, intelligent young lady heading to college. She was in awe of all the choices and opportunities Grace and her friends had for self-empowerment and self-expression – opportunities Joanne could have only dreamed of in the late 50s and early 60s. But she was also aware of our current climate that threatened so many of those advances she championed. She was departing from, while her granddaughter was just beginning her journey in, a world seemingly on fire. She encouraged her granddaughter not to add fuel to this fire; instead, through word and deed, be water to its flames. Only love can douse our anger and our hurt. And only love can draw the seed of hope out of this ash and dirt. So, define your limits by surpassing them, add more cracks to the glass ceiling, and do no harm.

Over the past three years, Joanne's many chronic health conditions slowly took away her mobility. This was difficult for someone who loved her independence. She drove well into her 80s, she loved dining out, and looked forward to holidays at Camille's in Federal Hill; she enjoyed shopping and meeting friends and acquaintances in markets, and she was always ready for a "pilgrimage" to Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun. She loved cooking slow simmering Sunday sauces, frying meatballs, sharing lasagna recipes, and making pizzelle cookies and Swedish apple pie. But life changed once she started to ambulate with a cane and then leaned on a walker. Eventually, she could only get around with a wheelchair and then became bedridden.

She could not go out into the world anymore, so she brought the world to her through charities. She donated to animal charities and shelters, to educational funds for Native Americans, and she was a member of the Padre Pio foundation. She loved and adored Saint Pio. Through his life and example, she learned that even in illness and confinement she could sit at the Lord's feet, listen to his teachings and receive his words.

Her final days were spent at St Anne's Hospital where she received exceptional care by some of the finest health care professionals in the county. She was self-conscious of her appearance – her fragility and marks of illness – but she was washed and cared for with great compassion and dignity. Her family is forever grateful.

In the end, her heart failed, but it did not break. It was replete with faith, hope, and love. She had the opportunity to say goodbye – to write her final chapter – which is an incredible gift. She left us a legacy and so many cherished memories. To quote Grace, "We love you and will always love you to the moon and back."

Joan was predeceased by all her siblings: James, Carmine and Dominic DiCarlo, Lucy Laflamme, Verna Freeborn, and Pauline Pacheco. She was also aunt of the late Beverly Laflamme, James N. Freeborn, Richard "Butchie" DiCarlo, William E. Wrightington III, and Dane DiCarlo.

Relatives and Friends are invited to attend her Mass of Christian Burial to be offered in St. Mary's Cathedral at 10:00 am on Wednesday, March 18, 2026. Committal Service and interment to follow will be private – and gathering at funeral home is also private.

To ensure that the family receives all online condolences you may wish to share, please submit only to the funeral home's website [ www.silvafaria.com at "Sign Guestbook" or "Send Sympathy Card"] and not through a third party. Thank you!

Omit flowers. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in Joan's memory to Padre Pio Foundation of America, 463 Main St, Cromwell, CT 06416; (860) 635-4996; https://padrepio.com/giving/donations/