Joan (Witkop) Lanoue

Joan (Witkop) Lanoue, 86, of Spruce Corner Rd., died Monday November 20, 2017 at the Poet Seat Health Care Center in Greenfield.

     Joan was born in Springfield, MA on August 4, 1931, a daughter of Earl and Helen B. (Thresher) Witkop. She was a graduate of Northampton High School, a member of the Class of 1949.

     Joan was a cook at the Ashfield House for 20 years before retiring in 1990.

     Joan loved to be around children and be a part of their learning experience. After raising 8 children of her own, she wanted to continue helping kids in any way she could. She decided to volunteer at Sanderson Academy in Ashfield for one hour a day, helping kids learn to read. Both the kids and Joan soon found out how important and valuable her time with them truly was. Her one hour a day turned into all day, four days a week. The one day she didn’t work was Wednesday and according to Joan, “That’s my shopping day and my day for lunch out”. Over her 15 years of volunteering she did “everything and anything” that the school needed. It was evident that Joan’s connection to the students left meaningful memories for her and the kids. She had to retire from the school so she could tend to her husband’s health care needs at home.

     At home Joan enjoyed sewing and of course reading, but her love for her family, especially her grandchildren, was her greatest love of all.

     Survivors include her eight loving children; four sons, Silbert R. “Woody” Lanoue and his fiancé Debra Koscinski of Colrain, Nelson E. Lanoue and his wife Brenda of Charlemont, David G. Lanoue and his wife Amy of Ashfield, Richard W. Lanoue and his wife Cyndy of Ashfield, four daughters, Susan E. Wall of Colrain, Jeanne M. Lowinski and husband Michael of Chester, MA, Barbara J. Thompson and husband David of Ashfield, Eileen LaDuke and husband Paul of Vergennes, VT, 60 grandchildren and great grandchildren, a sister Shirley Fydenkevez of Texas, and numerous nieces and nephews.

     Joan was predeceased by her husband Silbert, grandsons Richard, David and Jeff, brother Robert E. Witkop, and granddaughter-in-law Laura Doull.

     Visiting hours will be Monday evening from 6 to 8 pm at the Smith-Kelleher Funeral Home, 40 Church St., Shelburne Falls.

     A Liturgy of Christian Burial will be celebrated Tuesday at 11:00 am at St. Joseph’s Church, 34 Monroe Ave., Shelburne Falls. Committal prayers will follow in Spruce Corner Cemetery in Ashfield.

     In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to either The Literacy Project, 15 Bank Row, Suite C, Greenfield, MA 01301 or New England Hospice, 190 Old Derby St., Suite 304, Hingham, MA 02043

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