Joan Carlson

Joan McKinney Carlson, R.N., of Glastonbury, wife of George Carlson, died Friday, December 1, 2023 at the age of 71. Joan was born in Hartford on April 24, 1952, a daughter of the late William & Elizabeth McKinney of Rocky Hill. Joan grew up in Rocky Hill and graduated from Rocky Hill High School in 1970. She was then accepted into The Hartford Hospital School of Nursing. In 1973 Joan graduated from HHSN and immediately began her career in nursing at Hartford Hospital as a Registered Nurse. At Hartford Hospital Joan was in the Emergency Department for approximately 25 years. She was also a flight nurse with Life Star while in ED. Joan also lived in Baltimore, MD where she worked at Johns Hopkins, and in Denver, CO working at several hospitals.

In 2000 Joan earned her BSN degree from Regents College. Joan was proud, very proud to be a nurse. She was a humble servant of God who cared for so many people, and did it so quietly. Joan retired from Hartford Hospital in 2012, and has since been remembered by her colleagues as a dedicated, exemplary, and truly caring nurse.

Joan was also a proud member of the Manchester Regional Police & Fire Pipe Band. This fun was cut short by asthma in 2010. In 2016 Joan became a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR). She is a direct descendent of a member of a Connecticut Regiment in the Continental Army.

Joan loved the outdoors. She liked hiking, swimming, mountain climbing, running and sailing. Several times she ran in the Manchester Road Race. But sailing was her big thing. She loved being on or near the water. After a very close call at sea in 1990 (long story) she still wanted to sail. She bought herself a 27 foot Swedish sailboat. She sailed and sailed that boat. She just loved it.

Joan also loved to travel. England, France, Belgium, Greece, Turkey, Sweden, Iceland. Labrador and Newfoundland are some of the places Joan visited. Joan also was an animal lover. For many years she volunteered at the Connecticut Humane Society in Newington. In 2012, Joan went to Utah for a week to help with animals at the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary.

Besides George, her husband of 22 years, Joan is survived by her brother, Alan McKinney (Antonina) of Old Orchard Beach, ME, her sister, Judith Frascarelli (Arthur) of Colchester, two nieces, Lisa McKinney of Lewiston, ME, and Eileen McKim (Dominic) of Alton, ME., great niece, Teagan McKim and great nephew, Parker McKim, and her sister-in-law, Sally Carlson Crowell of Deep River.

Joan was predeceased by her sister-in-law Judith Wieleba McKinney of Auburn, ME., and by her dearest friend of some 40 years, Karen Beattie White of Windsor.

Funeral services will be Saturday, December 9, 2023 at 11:00 AM at the Rocky Hill Congregational Church, 805 Old Main Street, Rocky Hill. Burial will be private. There are no calling hours. In lieu of flowers please consider a memorial contribution to CT Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association, 200 Executive Blvd., Suite 4B, Southington, CT 06489 or the CT Humane Society, 701 Russell Road, Newington, CT 06111. The D’Esopo East Hartford Memorial Chapel has been entrusted with the care of the funeral arrangements. For on-line expressions of sympathy to the family, please visit www.desopoeh.com.