Joan Marie (Sieverts) Youngs

Joan Marie Sieverts Youngs of East Hampton, CT passed into eternal life on December 12, 2021 in her home surrounded by her family after a brief illness.  She was 91 years old.   She was born in New Rochelle, NY on February 9, 1930 to the late Edna Kopins Sieverts and Frederick Rankin Sieverts.  She was raised in New Rochelle until her family moved to CT. It is there that she met the love of her life, the late John Arthur Youngs. They were married in 1951 at St Patrick’s Church in East Hampton where they raised their 4 daughters and lived together for the rest of their lives.

 Joan graduated from the Ursuline School for Girls in New Rochelle and went on to earn her BS in Sociology and Psychology from Eastern CT State College.  She spent her entire life and career in service to others. As a teenager, she knitted scarves for the soldiers serving in WWII.  As a young mother, she volunteered at St Patricks Church, the PTA and Girl Scouts. One of her greatest accomplishments was advocating for her daughter Patricia, who was physically handicapped, to be educated in the local schools. Because of Joan’s persistence and advocacy, Patricia was one of the first mainstreamed special needs students in the state of CT paving the way for other children with special needs.

 Joan was a distinguished community leader.  She began volunteering at Red Cross Blood Drives in the early 60s which began her 37 years of working with the American Red Cross, 25 of them as the Executive Director of the Middlesex County Red Cross Chapter.  During her 25 years as head of the Chapter, Joan started a Fuel Bank to assist those in need of heating fuel, a Food Bank, an Elderly and Handicapped Transportation Program, Emergency Shelters for Families with Children, Assistance to Military Families during the Viet Nam War and more.  There was no one who walked through the doors that she turned away.

 After her retirement from the Red Cross in 1997, Joan continued to be involved in the community.  She served on the executive board of Gilead Community Services. She was on the board of the Community Foundation of Middlesex County where she served on their Grants Committee. She was a board member of St Luke’s Eldercare Services. She volunteered with the Middlesex United Way. She helped start the East Hampton Food and Fuel Bank and volunteered there until recently  She was proud of the Thanksgiving Food Baskets that she helped coordinate each year.

 Her years of service and leadership in the community earned her many awards including the Rotary Club-Paul Harris Award, The Lions Club-Melvin Jones Humanitarian Award, East Hampton Village Lions Club Citizen of the Year, and the St Luke’s Home-Catherine Rees Volunteer Excellence Award. In November 2011, for the annual Food Bank fundraiser, “The Turkey Plunge” in Lake Pocotopaug, Joan was the oldest participant at 81 years young!  Most recently, the Mayor of Middletown, CT proclaimed April 11, 2019 as Joan S Youngs Day because of her years of selfless service to the community!

 Left to cherish her memory are her 2 daughters: Mary Ellen Youngs Cohen-Shohet of Palm Coast, FL and Nancy Youngs Wilcox (Bruce) of Norfolk, VA.  Her 10 Grandchildren: Sandra Joanne Youngs, Rachel Cohen-Shohet (Felipe Cadavid), Danielle Cohen-Shohet, Leah Cohen-Shohet, Katrin Wilcox Beath (David), Jonathan Wilcox (Grace), Henry Wilcox (Pam), Andrew Wilcox, Margaret Wilcox Simone (Ryan) and Charles Wilcox. Her 8 Great Grandchildren: Will and Arthur Beath, Walker and George Wilcox, Elizabeth, Bruce and Benjamin Wilcox, and Charlotte Simone. Her son in law Allen Strecker,  Her brother, Frederick Sieverts and many special cousins, nieces and nephews. Joan was predeceased by her husband John Arthur Youngs. Daughters Patricia Youngs Strecker and Joanne Youngs Stupnitski. Her grandson Matthew Strecker, and her son in laws John Cohen Shohet and Peter Stupnitski.

Joan lived a faith filled life of unselfish service to others. She was genuinely interested in everyone she met. She was able to spend her last few summers at her “happy place” in Rhode Island thanks to her dedicated caregiver, Galina.  She loved her family and leaves behind a remarkable legacy.

 In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to any the above mentioned charities that meant so much to Joan.

 Visitation will be Thursday, December 16 from 5:00-7:00PM at Spencer Funeral Home 112 Main St East Hampton.  The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, December 17 at 11:00AM at St Patrick’s Church in East Hampton. To leave online condolences please visit www.spencerfuneralhomeinc.com.

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