It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Joan (Guida) Chaves, 87, into eternal rest on Monday, February 25, 2019, at her home in Avon, CT surrounded by her loving family.
Joan was the eldest daughter of the late Stanley and Lillian Guida of Middletown, CT. She was predeceased by her beloved husband of 61 years Arthur A. Chaves, daughter Janet Rogan, sons Arthur and Peter. She is survived by her five children, Carol Chaves and partner Richard Green, Mary Garofalo and husband Anthony, JoAnn Chaves Cotter, John Chaves and wife Margaret, and Margaret Chaves, as well as ten beloved grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, and many loving nieces and nephews. Joan is also survived by her two sisters Ann Donahue and Joyce Scirpo along with her loving husband Joseph.
Joan grew up in Middletown, CT and went on to earn her R.N. degree from the Saint Francis Hospital School of Nursing. Caring for others was truly her passion. She was a lifelong member of the Saint Francis Hospital School of Nursing Alumni Association. Joan and Art were active members of the National Hemophilia Foundation. She was gifted with a beautiful singing voice, which brought out the vivacious part of her personality to the fullest. Joan loved reading and belonged to a book club with her wonderful longtime friends. Her love of sports is an understatement! A huge fan of the Red Sox, Patriots and of course UConn Women’s Basketball.
Joan had many treasured memories of the times spent at the family summer home on Fishers Island, NY where she enjoyed golfing with Arthur, spending countless hours on the beautiful beaches and entertaining family and friends. Joan was a strong woman of her faith. She was generous, humble, loving, kind, hardworking and forgiving. She had an open-hearted spirit that will stay with us forever.
Joan’s family will receive friends on Friday, March 1, 2019, from 5-8PM at the Carmon Funeral Home & Family Center, 301 Country Club Road in Avon. A Liturgy of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, March 2, 2019 at 10AM at St. Catherine of Siena, 265 Stratton Brook Road, West Simsbury, CT 06092. Burial will follow in Riverside Cemetery, 102 East Street, Windsor, CT 06095.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Joan’s memory can be made to The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinsons Research, P.O. Box 5014, Hagerstown, MD 21741-5014 or the National Hemophilia Foundation, ATTN: Development Department, 7 Penn Plaza, Suite 1204, New York, NY 10001. For condolences or directions, please visit www.carmonfuneralhome.com. Carmon Community Funeral Home, 301 Country Club Road, Avon, CT 06001, 860-673-8610.
Published in the Hartford Courant February 27, 2019
