JoAnn Margaret Brooke, 79, of Moretown, died peacefully at the
Squier House in Waterbury, on April 28, 2009, following an eight-month
battle with cancer.
Born in Salamanca, NY, she married her high school sweetheart Harold
(Rusty) Brooke Jr. after honoring her parents' request that she wait
one year following graduation to marry.
She moved to Salem, NY, to help Rusty run a corner store where the
specialty of the house was JoAnn's homemade ice cream. The family lived
in Elnora, NY, in Plattsburg, NY, finally settling in Middlesex, VT, in
1968.
JoAnn began working for the State Hospital in the Personnel Department
at the Waterbury Complex in January 1971, retiring in March of 1992.
Rusty predeceased JoAnn in April of 1975; she raised her youngest son as a single parent.
She often told the family that some of her happiest memories came from
the simplest of times in her life. She recounted living in a camp in
Maine during the early days of her marriage, with no electricity or
running water, with Rusty, their new baby and their dog "Lady."
She had a special place in her heart for animals; dogs and cats loved
her. She enjoyed gardening, bird watching, and spending time with her
family and friends. She was a rock for her sons, a loving mother and
devoted grandmother. Shortly following major surgery last fall she not
only attended but danced at her granddaughter's wedding.
JoAnn was predeceased by her siblings, brothers Daniel and Richard and her sister Alice.
She leaves her son Michael and his companion and friend Penny Edwards,
her son Glenn and his wife Barbara and their children Kate Margaret
Brooke McMahon of Portland, OR, and Christopher Taylor. She also leaves
her dearest friends Anita Dunlavey of Clifton Park, NY, and Beverly
Lamberson of Blairstown, NJ.
The family would like to thank Dr. John Valentine for his kind support,
Central Vermont Hospice for their care and advice and extends a special
thank you to the staff of the Squier House in Waterbury who provided
outstanding care for JoAnn during her final two weeks of life.
In keeping with her wishes a private committal service was held for the family at Hope Cemetery, Waterbury, on Sunday, May 3.
In lieu of flowers, donations in JoAnn's memory may be made to the
Squire House, 26 Union Street, Waterbury, VT 05676. Assisting the
family is the Perkins-Parker Funeral Home and Cremation Service in
Waterbury. To send online condolences please visit
www.perkinsparker.com.
