Joanne Carol Kneeland 90, of Haddam, formerly of Cobalt passed away March 31. Born June 25, 1931 in Glen Ridge, NJ, she was the daughter of the late Wallace and Esther (Hawthorne) Giles.
Joanne grew up in New Jersey and spent summers at Camp Bethel in Haddam, CT. Following high school she attended Aurora College in Illinois where she studied nursing and became a Registered Nurse. While in college, Joanne met and fell in love with David Kneeland, a fellow student. The two were married in 1954. Shortly after graduating, the couple moved to CT, eventually settling in Cobalt.
Joanne was very active in the community and in her local church and the next few decades saw her taking on a variety of jobs. She worked as a Nurse for many years at Hartford National Bank in downtown Hartford. She was a self taught seamstress and baker, making dresses and wedding gowns and baking wedding cakes. She also served as a part time librarian at the Middle Haddam library. The last 17 years of her working career were spent at the US Post Office in Cobalt. Joanne was a long standing member of the Congreagtional Church of East Hampton where she was constantly involved playing in the bell choir, or coordinating and cooking for a fund raising event or pot luck supper.
Joanne was always interested to try new things and she became accomplished at quite a few. She learned chair caning, quilting, painting, and needlepointing just to name a few. She was always ready to lend a hand or help out when someone was in need and she was a friend to all who knew her.
After retiring from the Post Office, Joanne and David enjoyed traveling to various places around the world and spending many summer weeks at their cottage on the coast of Maine.
Joanne was predeceased by her husband, David; a brother, Robert Giles; and a granddaughter, Shannon Hebert.
She is survived by her three children, Kate Nichols (Nick) of Somerville ME, Patrick Kneeland (Julia) of East Hampton, and Paul Kneeland (Sabina) of Gorham ME; as well as 11 grandchildren and numerous great grandchildren.
A memorial celebration of life will be held Saturday May 7 at 11am at Camp Bethel in Haddam CT. All are welcome to attend.
Memorial donations may be made to Treasurer, Camp Bethel Association, Camp Bethel, Haddam CT 06438
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