Joann P. ''Jo'' Beebe

JoAnn (Kanehl) Beebe, 64, of Manchester, passed away on the morning of December 15, 2017 surrounded by her loving family after a short but courageous battle with cancer. She was predeceased by her parents Leonard and Jacqueline (McMullin) Kanehl, her in-laws Kenneth and Alice Beebe, her sister- in-law Judith (Beebe) Cook and her husband John Cook, and her adored English Springer Spaniel, "Ophelia" Jo was born on December 22, 1952 in Manchester, attended local schools and was a graduate of MHS, Class of 1970. She was a loving, caring person, employed early on as a dedicated L.P.N. at several Manchester nursing homes. When their two daughters were very young, the family moved to Jupiter, Florida in 1984. Jo became a "stay at home Mom" throughout most of her girls schooling years into high school. Jo worked for several years as a Deli Manager at the Jupiter Winn Dixie Supermarket. In the fall of 1999, Stephen and Jo returned to Manchester. Jo accepted a position as a Customer Service Rep. in August of 2000 at the Big Y Supermarket #45 in Manchester where she remained until her passing. She was greatly admired and respected by both her co-workers and customers in her 17 years there. Jo will be dearly missed by her many close friends at Big Y. Among her many interests, she enjoyed crocheting, needlepoint, and she was a very accomplished cook. She also was an occasional liturgist at North United Methodist Church in Manchester. Jo read extensively and loved to write her own stories. Early on she corresponded with her favorite sci-fi author Mr. Ray Bradbury, to whom she sent several of her short stories. He admired them and her talent. He wrote her back thanking her for her submissions and offered her kindly advice for her writing skills and encouraged her to "please keep writing". In addition to her loving husband of 44 years, Stephen, she leaves her two daughters and their spouses; Lisa and David Hearne and their children; Levi and Sawyer all of Riverview, FL, and Sarah Anne Beebe and John Eric Vermilya of West Palm Beach, FL, her brother and sister-in-law Leonard and Shari Kanehl of Surprise, AZ, her sister and brother-in-law Janine Kanehl-Funk and Ernest Rosenbalm of Bristol, VA., and several loving nieces, nephews, their families and many wonderful friends and co-workers. Family and friends are welcome to attend a time of friendship and visitation at Holmes-Watkins Funeral Home, 400 Main St., Manchester on Wednesday, December 20, 2017 from 6:30-8:30 pm. Burial will be private in Buckland Cemetery, Manchester. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the Connecticut Humane Society or the ASPCA. To leave an online condolence please visit www.holmeswatkins.com

Visitation DetailsWednesday, December 20th, 2017 6:30pm - 8:30pm, Holmes-Watkins Funeral Home
Interment DetailsBuckland Cemetery