Carol Amaral Obituary

.Carol Marie (Poggenburg) Amaral of Newtown, CT, age 86, passed away peacefully on February 24, 2026 after a long illness.

Carol was the daughter of Ken and Elizabeth (Betty) Poggenburg of Jackson Heights, Queens, NY and Redding Center, CT. She graduated from Danbury H.S. in 1957 and St. Vincent's School of Nursing in 1960. She worked as a nurse for 5 years, and she met her husband Danny on a church skiing weekend. They married in 1964 and were blessed with three daughters. In addition to raising the girls, Carol spent time volunteering. At St. Rose School she was a volunteer nurse, teacher's aide, chaperone, lunch/recess monitor, supported her daughters in Irish dancing, St. Rose basketball, and was a Cookie Chairperson for Newtown Girl Scouts.

In her later years she continued volunteering, working with St. Rose Junior Youth Group, the nurse ministry, and as an altar server. She also volunteered with Kevin's Community Center in Newtown. She loved spending time in her garden and watching the birds at the feeders. She enjoyed traveling with Danny throughout the years, especially family vacations to Cape Cod, the Outer Banks, and Lake Tahoe with her children and grandchildren.

Carol is survived by her husband, Daniel J. Amaral, and her three daughters: Catherine (John) Freitas of Maple Grove, MN, Cynthia (Christopher) Stierle of Sandy Hook, CT, and Cheryl (Jeffrey) Shea of North Smithfield, R.I. She has four grandchildren: Joshua (Hannah) Freitas, Samantha Freitas, Michael (Elizabeth) Stierle, and Emma Stierle, as well as 3 great-grandchildren (Noa, Jackson, and Oaken Freitas.) She is also survived by her brother Ken (Sheila) Poggenburg and sister Linda (Robert) Whyte, in addition to many nieces and nephews.

Carol had a strong spirit and even stronger faith, which she showed as she endured many health challenges. In addition to being a cancer survivor and amputee, she also dealt with the effect of Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia (HHT) throughout her life. Her desire to help others continued; at the end of her life, she was participating in an HHT drug trial so that it might help others with this genetic condition in the future.

Calling hours at Honan Funeral Home in Newtown, CT will be Sunday, March 8th from 1 pm to 4 pm. A Mass of Christian burial will take place at noon on Monday, March 9th at St. Rose of Lima in Newtown. Interment will take place in the spring. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to curehht.org. The funeral mass will be live streamed at https://www.strosechurch.com/live-stream

Carol's kindness, generosity, and love for her family and friends will forever remain in the hearts of those who knew her.