BERLIN — Funeral services will be on Thursday, May 8, at 10 a.m. at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, 1655 Main St., Newington, Connecticut for Joan Ellen (Nielsen) Wetherell, 77, loving daughter, wife, mother, grandmother and friend who passed away on May 2, surrounded by her family. She will be laid to rest in West Meadow Cemetery, Newington.
She was the daughter of the late William and Ellen (Hinchliffe) Nielsen. Joan was the beloved wife of the late Richard M. Wetherell and the late Richard E. Peck. Born May 10, 1936 in Hartford, Joan was a Newington resident most of her life.
She graduated from Newington High School, trained as an X-ray technician at New Britain General Hospital and worked in private practice. She changed careers to become a wife, homemaker and mother extraordinaire. She was an active member of the management team of The Wetherell Corporation, her family’s contracting firm, until her retirement in 2013. She volunteered her time and talents to many endeavors, particularly Girl Scouts. Joan was a gourmet cook, always trying new recipes much to her family and friends’ gastronomic delight. She loved to entertain and was a consummate hostess.
She felt blessed to have traveled so much of the USA and the world and shared her enthusiasm with others. She enjoyed weekends in Brownsville, winter months in Florida, and summers at Spofford Lake, New Hampshire with family and friends. Joan was a longtime fan of UConn Huskies basketball, following the seasons closely, cheering the team on and most recently celebrating the 2014 men’s and women’s championships. She was an avid golfer, and loved to play bridge, cribbage, and other card and board games, always playing to win. She leaves behind a legacy of memories of love and laughter and her quick wit.
Joan is survived by her daughters and sons-in-law, LeeAnn and Peter Manke of Newington; and Julie and Peter Gaudette of West Windsor, She adored her grandchildren: Robert, Meghan and Patricia Manke, and Joshua and Joseph Gaudette, taking great pride in their accomplishments and delighting in spending time with them. She is survived by her sisters-and-brother-in-law: Elda and Mark Givens of Bridgewater, New Hampshire and Jane Breen of Newington, and several nieces and a nephew. She also leaves her stepchildren Michael and Amanda Peck, Steven Peck, and Tamra Peck, and her step-grandchildren Jeffrey, Michael, Christopher, Brian, Eric, Tommy and Taryn. Joan was blessed with many good friends, especially Patty, Barbara, Nancy and Mary whose friendship and love she cherished through the years.
Joan wished to extend a special thanks to LeeAnn, “my girl of many hats,” for taking care of everything. The family greatly appreciates the outstanding care and compassion that Joan received from her home healthcare aide and the staff of Midstate Medical Center.
In lieu of flowers, Joan asked that contributions in her memory be made to the Connecticut Humane Society, 701 Russell Road, Newington, Connecticut 06111 or the Newington Volunteer Fire Department, 1485 Main Street, Newington, CT 06111.
To share a memory with her family, please visit us at www.newingtonmemorial.com.
This obituary first appeared in the May 8, 2014 print edition of the Vermont Standard.
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