Obituary of Joan Beverly Driscoll

Joan Beverly Driscoll (1945-2024)

Avid reader, enthusiastic traveler, and dedicated historian Joan B. Driscoll, age 79 of Derby, died August 21, 2024. 

Joan (Joanie) was born in New Haven, CT on August 8, 1945 to parents Ann and Fred Driscoll of Ansonia, the second of three children. She attended Lincoln Elementary School, where her love of reading blossomed. She graduated from Ansonia High School in 1963. She began working in the probate court for Ansonia, then New Haven, and later worked for the Derby Historical Society through the Derby Public Library. Her passion and love of “The Valley” and New Haven history was portrayed in many ways, from her professional to her personal life. Joan researched and wrote many articles and historical pieces, enjoyed leading tours of historic New Haven buildings, and invited many influential people to speak at the library.

Joan also traveled the world and maintained correspondence with family and friends she met along the way. Shortly after graduating high school, she traveled to Europe, then a few years after she visited Japan. Joan also visited family in Ukraine and later went to Hawaii to attend her nephew, John Driscoll’s, college graduation. And, in her later years, she took trips with the community senior center to the theater, New York City, and other local areas. One fond memory that her nephews RJ and Sean had was going with their Aunt Joanie to many plays at the Shubert Theater in New Haven. Joan loved the beach and spent a great deal of time with her nieces and nephews playing in the sand and surf. Her love of reading was also apparent-she often had a book in hand, made recommendations to others, and had quite the collection at home.

Joanie is survived by her brother, David Driscoll (and wife Nobuko) of Orange, her sister, Judy Ritchie of Orange; as well as nephew John Driscoll of Hawaii, nephew Sean Driscoll (and wife Toni) of Orange; niece Pamela Hinton (and husband Cary) of Oxford, nephew RJ Ritchie (and wife Anne) of Westport MA; grandniece Kisha De la Cruz (and children Khloe Ann, Kainalu, Keanu, and Kylie) of Hawaii, grandnephews Michio and Declan Driscoll of Orange, and grandnieces Julia Hinton of Concord MA and Natalie Hinton of Washington DC.

She was predeceased by her parents, Ann Driscoll of Ansonia and Fred Driscoll of New Haven; grandparents Theodore and Anastasia Kulawiz; uncles John Kulawiz and Russell Kulawiz (and wife The Honorable Joanne Kulawiz) of Orange; brother-in-law Ron Ritchie Jr. of Orange; and niece Karen Ritchie of Seymour.

Family and friends may call on Wednesday, August 28, 2024, from 10:00 AM to 12:00 Noon at the Wakelee Memorial Funeral Home, 167 Wakelee Avenue, Ansonia.  Funeral services will take place at 12:00 Noon and interment will follow in Sts. Peter and Paul Cemetery, Derby.  Online condolences may be found at www.wakeleememorial.com.