Joan H. Montgomery

Joan H. Montgomery, age 82, of Fairfield, beloved wife of the late John Ward Montgomery, passed away peacefully Friday, October 27, 2017 at Cambridge Manor surrounded by her loving family. Born in Mechanicville, NY the daughter of the late William and Kathryn (Kirkpatrick) Hogan, she had been a Fairfield resident for over 50 years. She was a graduate of Mechanicville High School and received her Bachelors Degree in Education from the College of St. Rose in Albany, NY. She began her teaching career at Elementary School 12 in Troy NY, and after raising her seven children, she returned to the field of education at McKinley School in Fairfield for over 20 years. She was a long-time parishioner of St. Emery Church in Fairfield and found great comfort in her faith. Outgoing and friendly, Joan made longtime friends that she deeply cherished. She was devoted to those she loved especially her grandchildren. Joan inspired all that knew her to live joyfully and instilled the importance of family. She is survived by her son, Mark W. Montgomery of Fairfield; six daughters and sons-in-law, Mary-Pat and Todd Burr of Fairfield, Maureen and Bob McMenamey of Trumbull, Margo and Richard Sheldon of Huntington, Kathryn and Christopher Parisi of Fairfield, Krissy and Tom Spisak of Fairfield and Rebecca and Jay Pittorino of Westborough, MA; 19 loving grandchildren, Alex, Tyler and Sydney Burr, Brenna, Colin and Patrick McMenamey, MacKinnon, Maeve and Benjamin Sheldon, Olivia, Abigail, Eliza and Ethan Parisi, Samantha, Molly and Matthew Spisak and Derek, Jane and Henry Pittorino; a sister, Mary Ellen Taggart of Cherry Hills NJ, and several loving nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by a sister, Patricia O'Neil; two brothers-in-law, Raymond O'Neil and David Taggart and her lifelong best friend whom she considered more as a sister, Patricia Burk. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Thursday, November 2, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. meeting directly at St. Emery's Church, Fairfield. Interment will follow in Oak Lawn Cemetery. The family will receive friends Wednesday from 4-8 p.m. in the Spear-Miller Funeral Home, 39 South Benson Road, Fairfield. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to St. Emery's Church, 838 Kings Highway East, Fairfield, CT 06825. For information or to offer an online condolence please visit www.SpearMillerFuneralHome.com