Carleen Zembko

Mrs. Carleen Willis Zembko, 87, of Southington, Connecticut passed away peacefully at her daughter's home in Union, Connecticut on April 25, 2026. Carleen was born in Worcester, Massachusetts on December 12, 1938. She was the daughter of the late Morton Willis and the late Grace Olivia Peterson Willis. Carleen was preceded in death by her husband John, son Paul, daughter Karen Gilgallon and son-in-law Joseph Gilgallon.

Carleen received her Associates degree in Recreational Therapy at Emily Post College in Waterbury, Connecticut. She was devoted to caring for her mother Grace Willis which led to her passion of caring for the elderly. Carleen shared her skills at Jefferson House in New Britain and Apple Rehab in Cromwell. She was a member of the VFW Ladies Auxiliary in Rocky Hill and very active in New Britain politics. Carleen was an Alderman and Advisor on senior issues. She was also a Justice of the Peace and truly loved officiating weddings.

In her free time, she enjoyed being a member of the Pattaconk Yacht Club. You could often find her boating on the water with her husband John. After his passing, Carleen continued sailing with her loving companion Howard Warner. She crocheted hundreds of items which she donated to cancer patients, as well as many soap sacks for the Veterans, and afghans for her senior patients at the rehab facilities where she worked.

Carleen is survived by her daughter Nancy Kapplan and husband Barry, her son John Zembko and wife Jan, grandchildren Molly Zembko, Jacob Kapplan, Joshua Zembko and wife Sloan, Ariel MacPherson and husband Richard, David Kapplan, Kaylee Cordero and husband Jeremy, Taryn Petter and husband Christopher, Zachary Zembko and wife Rachel, Ryan, Joseph and Jaclyn Gilgallon, as well as many great-grandchildren.

Services will be held on Wednesday, April 29, 2026 from 11 AM to 1 PM at Erickson-Hansen Funeral Home of Berlin, 111 Chamberlain Highway, Berlin, CT.