Joan was born in Danbury on May 17, 1930, to Albert C. and Rita Corinne (Richardson) Stieber. She graduated from Danbury High School and Mt. Sinai Hospital School of Nursing. She married the love of her life, Joseph W. Tarrant Jr. in 1957, settled in Bethel and raised their six children. She was employed with the Bethel School System until her retirement. She was a life member of the American Legion Auxiliary, Joseph W. Tarrant Jr. Memorial Post 100. She served in all offices at the local, district, and state levels, rising to State President in 1981. She was 50+ year member of the Bethel Patriotic Association in Bethel, serving as its secretary for those years.
Joan is survived by her children Pamela (Jack) Cahill, James (Susan) Tarrant, Cori Gassett, Leslie Sanford, and Jon (Rhonda) Tarrant, 15 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her stepbrother Wayne Richardson and stepsister Laurel Richardson, and nieces and nephews.
In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her husband Joe, son and daughter-in-law Joseph W. Tarrant III and MaryEllen Tarrant, brother Malcolm Stieber, granddaughter Cortni Gasset Fitch, great granddaughter Aubrey Rose, and sons-in-law Michael Peck and Jeffrey Gassett.
The family would like to give a special thanks to Joan’s aide Sonia Veras, who helped Joan’s daughter Leslie care for her, and also to the nurses and aides from Regional Hospice of Danbury for their support in her last stage of her life.
Family will receive friends on Friday, July 11, 2025 from 4-7 p.m. at Green Funeral Home, 57 Main St., Danbury.
Funeral service will be held Saturday, July 12, 2025 at 10 a.m. at St. James Episcopal Church, 25 West St., Danbury. Burial will follow the service at Elmwood Cemetery in Bethel.
Contributions in her memory may be made to: Regional Hospice of Danbury (30 Milestone Rd, Danbury, CT 06810-5114), Bethel High School Alumni Scholarship Fund (1 Whittlesey Rd, Bethel, CT 06801), or St. Jude Children’s Hospital DIPG Cancer Research, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-3678; (stjude.org).
