Help for Jeanne Ambrosio After Route 6 Crash

When Jeanne Ambrosio and a young woman collided on Route 6 Nov. 23, the young woman died. Ambrosio survived the accident with severe injuries and was taken to Hartford Hospital, where she remains in intensive care.

She has had a couple of surgeries, sustained a dozen broken bones and remains on a ventilator. This weekend, she developed a fever, said Deb Palen, a friend and mother of one of the girls in Ambrosio's Girl Scout troop.

“I spoke with her husband last night. They’re going day by day right now,” Palen said. “It shows your life can change in an instant... I’m just praying she gets through it.”

But in this difficult time, there has been an outpouring of care from the community, including a benefit pasta supper planned by the Girl Scout troop.

Ambrosio began volunteering as troop leader when her daughter was in elementary school, Palen said. Today, Ambrosio leads a senior troop of just four girls and her children are at Farmington High School, both members of the Crew team. Michael is a senior and Amanda a junior. Friends say Ambrosio is also active in her church in Bristol and volunteers at school.

Before the accident, Ambrosio, a registered nurse, was working part-time, teaching at Goodwin College but has been unable to work since the accident.

Hearing what Ambrosio had gone through and the financial burden her family will face for her medical care, the girls in the troop and their moms wanted to help. They decided on a pasta dinner benefit to be held Monday, Dec. 19 from 5 to 8 p.m. at Farmington High School.

“We’re just looking to help them offset some of their costs and everyday expenses,” Palen said. “When things like this happen, people are really generous in the beginning and as time passes on they forget and move on.”

The dinner will be simple. Pasta has been donated by Gnazzo’s grocery store in Plainville and Palen said they’re working on getting sauce, bread and salad. Girl Scouts from all over Farmington will be baking dessert for the event.

Local students will upply the entertainment. Farmington High School chorus and jazz band members have volunteered to perform and raffle prizes will be given away.

Tickets for the event are $5 for students, $10 for adults and are available at Farmington High School during lunch, at Gallery Salon and by calling Deb Palen at 860-677-1332. Those who wish may instead make a donation to the Jeanne Ambrosio Fund at any Farmington Bank branch or by mail at Jeanne Ambrosio Fund, Farmington Bank, 282 Scott Swamp Road, Farmington 06032.

All donations will go directly into the account and only Jeanne’s husband, Tony Ambrosio, has access to it.