Joan E. Franchini

Joan E. Franchini, 85, died peacefully on February 12th, 2025 surrounded by loved ones. Joan dedicated her life to her family, including her two boys, and the community in which she lived.

Joan was born on September 21, 1939, in Passaic, NJ to John Shostik and Elizabeth Snyder Shostik. She grew up in East Rutherford, NJ with her two younger siblings, John and Margo. As a young woman, Joan worked at Becton Dickinson, a medical device company based in East Rutherford. She later met John Joseph Franchini of Hasbrouck Heights, NJ, and the two were married on August 17, 1963. Joan and John moved up to Connecticut where they started their life together. Their first house was in Trumbull, CT, where they had their two sons, John and Robert. In 1977 John and Joan built a home in Fairfield, CT in which every detail was designed by Joan. The family shared many holidays and gatherings together, year after year, in their Fairfield home, where Joan was always the consummate host. That home remains in the family today.

Joan had very strong ties to her community and a deep passion for helping people. She was heavily involved in her children’s schooling, volunteering and attending their events at every opportunity, from running the Timothy Dwight school store, to being the class mom, and chaperoning many class trips. She was involved with numerous local organizations and charities including the PTA, Parish Court, and the International Institute. Joan also served as a Sunday school teacher for many years at her beloved Greenfield Hill Congregational Church. She would never miss the opportunity to work at the church’s annual Dogwood Festival.

Joan thoroughly enjoyed creating art and was quite a talented amateur artist in her own right. She loved to dance to all types of music which she did until her very last days. She had a deep appreciation for nature and a profound love and respect for animals. She loved to garden and always would take time to smell the roses. Joan enjoyed creating beauty.

Joan is survived by her husband, John Franchini, her two sons John (Nicole), and Robert (Stephanie), her brother John Shostik (Kathy) her brother-in-law William Poole, her grandchildren Nicolas, Christopher, RJ, and Lucy, and many loving nieces and nephews. 

Joan is preceded in death by her parents John and Elizabeth Shostik and her sister, Margo Poole. 

Joan’s family would like to express their heartfelt appreciation to friends and extended family members who have offered unwavering support during this time. Additionally, we sincerely thank the dedicated nurses and staff at The Greens of Cannondale for the exceptional care and compassion that they provided Joan in the final years of her life.

A service to honor Joan will take place on Saturday, March 8th at the Greenfield Hill Congregational Church on Old Academy Road in Fairfield, CT at 10:00am with a reception to follow.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Joan's memory to the Greenfield Hill Congregational Church "Mission Board". All donations will be allocated among many of the local charities in which Joan spent her life supporting.