Obituary of Joan I. Hanley

Joan Isabel Hanley passed away peacefully with family by her side on Wednesday, May 9, 2018 in Shelton, CT. Joan was born March 2, 1934, in New York, NY to Claire and Richard Marschall. After graduating from the College of New Rochelle, Joan married William Hanley on September 3, 1955. Their adventurous life led them to Philadelphia, Poughkeepsie, and finally South Burlington, Vermont where they raised their seven children.

Joan was an advocate for education and returned to school after raising her children to obtain her Master of Librarian Science degree from the University of Vermont. Believing strongly in giving back to the community Joan spent a great deal of time volunteering with organizations such as Meals on Wheels, the Hospital Auxiliary in Burlington, VT, COTS, and the Mercy Sisters. After retiring from Lamoille School District where she was the school librarian, Joan continued her advocacy for children as a guardian ad litem. Joan enjoyed sailing on Lake Champlain with her family, gardening, reading, and the New York Times Sunday crossword.

In her retirement, Joan fulfilled her passion for traveling and saw the Pyramids of Egypt, zip-lined in Costa Rica, whitewater rafted in the Grand Canyon, and visited the temples in Cambodia to name a few.

The family would like to express their gratitude and appreciation to the caregivers at Benchmark at Split Rock for their extraordinary love and care of our mother. Joan is pre-deceased by her parents, her husband, her three siblings, Charles, Gertrude, and Alan and son-in-law, Thomas.

She is survived by her children: Matthew (Liz), Jane, Maureen (Paul), Christopher (Holly), Elizabeth (Frank), Joseph (Elena), and Kate (Brian), and her 15 grand-children: Jessica, Steven, Paul, Joseph, Meagan, Patrick, Bridget, Katie, Tyler, Carly, Kelsey, Amanda, Gretchen, Clara, Jorge, her 2 great-grandsons and many nieces and nephews. A truly great lady, she will be deeply missed by all. A Dieu, Mom.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, May 12, 2018 at 12:00 p.m. directly in St. Jude Church, 707 Monroe Turnpike, Monroe. Interment will be held privately at the convenience of the family. There will be no calling hours. A memorial service in Burlington Vermont will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to the Friends of the South Burlington Library, 155 Dorset Street, South Burlington, VT 05403 or the Alzheimer’s Association.