Joan R. Sheffield

Joan (Daugherty) Sheffield, 83, passed away on December 31, 2022. She was born on December 7, 1939 in Newark, NJ but had an idyllic upbringing in Hingham, MA. Joan raised sheep, learned how to sail, then taught it to others, developed her tennis game, and made lifelong friends. After earning her associates degree from Vermont College, Joan became an engineering assistant United Technologies Research Center. It was there that she met the love of her life, Bill Sheffield. They would settle in Manchester and enjoy 57 years of marriage before his passing in 2019. Joan was a great organizer. She loved to put together tennis parties with their many friends. Staples at these parties would include her deviled eggs and baked Alaska. She could be counted on to volunteer her time, whether it be in the library of whichever Manchester school her daughter was attending or at St. Mary's Episcopal Church. Joan was a scrapbooker long before it became a fad. She loved cutting out articles from newspapers that mentioned people she knew in order to give it to them. Joan was a lifelong sports fan and rooted for the Red Sox, Celtics, Patriots, NY Giants, and UConn Huskies. Besides playing tennis, she enjoyed bridge at the Senior Center and bingo. Joan is survived by her only child Gail, and her husband Donald Griswold, of Tolland. Her sister Ginger Irvine of London, UK, her brother Bob and wife Arleen Daugherty of Milwaukee, OR, and nieces and nephews whom she loved so much. Many thanks to the friends, too numerous to name, who have called, written, or visited her these last few years. It meant so much to Joan. Besides her husband Bill, Joan was predeceased by her parents Robert and Barbara Daugherty, sisters-in-law Joann Soldan and Caroline Manville and brother-in-law Glenn Irvine. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Neuroacanthocytosis Advocacy USA Inc (NA-USA) at 2285 Harlock Rd, Melbourne, FL 32934 or give online at www.naadvocacyusa.org . Friends and relatives are invited to join the family for calling hours at Holmes-Watkins Funeral Home, 400 Main St, Manchester on January 19 from 4-7 PM. Funeral services will follow on January 20, at St. Marys Episcopal Church, 41 Park St, Manchester, beginning at 1:30 PM. Joan's favorite color was green. Please feel free to wear some green to the service.








Services

Calling Hours / Wake
Thursday
January 19, 2023
4:00 PM to 7:00 PM
Holmes Watkins Funeral Home
400 Main Street
Manchester, CT 06040


Funeral Service
Friday
January 20, 2023
1:30 PM to 2:30 PM
St. Mary's Episcopal Church
41 Park Street
Manchester, CT 06040