Joan Deans

Tuesday, March 25, 2025. She was born on May 22, 1936 in Danbury, CT of the

late Merwin Reynolds and Christine Grant Reynolds-Forlastro. As a young child

Joan had fond memories of spending time with her grandfather in Harrisburg,

PA. Joan attended Danbury schools and in adulthood she worked as a

telephone operator for 32 years at SNET until she retired. During her retirement

she also did work part time for several years as a Pharmaceutical Technician for

Stop and Shop Pharmacy.

Joan - known to many as Aunt Joanie - will always be remembered for her sweet

demeanor and her distinctive voice that everyone recognized and loved. She

touched the lives of many and always looked for the good in everyone.

She was the family bookkeeper, never forgetting anyone’s birthday or

anniversary. You could always expect a call or a card in the mail letting you

know she was thinking of you. Her family was everything to her. She especially

loved her grand nieces and nephews. In her retirement she spent a good

majority of that time with them. Whether she was taking them to gymnastics or

to and from school, attending dance recitals or band concerts she never missed

a thing. The children always brought her so much joy and she loved the time

she spent with them.

Joan was also an animal lover and known to take in the occasional stray here

and there. One that stands out the most was a cat she named Grayson. On

one of her walks with her beloved dog Mickey, she came across this cat who

was crying. He looked scared and hungry. She began to feed him daily and he

started to gain her trust. Eventually, she was able to coax him into her garage

where he would be sheltered from the cold. From there his trust in her

continued until eventually he came into the house where he lived on happily with

her for many years. This is just a small example of the love and compassion

Joan showed for all those around her. She was one of a kind and will truly be

missed by all that knew her.

Joan is predeceased in death by her late husband Thomas Deans, Stepfather

Joseph Forlastro, brothers Francis Reynolds, Joseph Forlastro and sisters

Josephine Forlastro and Patricia Ludwig.

Joan is survived by her stepson Glenn Deans, siblings Richard Forlastro, Robert

Forlastro (Bonnie), Mary Forlastro, Josylda Kopke, Marcella Tigrett, Judy

Forlastro-State, Christine Garrison (Walter), Lisa Mimoso, sister-in-law Patricia

Reynolds, many nieces and nephews and her beloved cat Minnie.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to Joan’s “Birchwood

Family” for always looking out for her and to the Regional Hospice of Danbury

for their kindness and compassion.

Family and friends are invited to attend a Memorial Service at Green Funeral

Home 57 Main St in Danbury on Friday April 11th from 9 to 11am. Interment to

follow at St Peter’s Cemetery 71 Lake Avenue Ext. in Danbury.

Memorial contributions may be made to the CT Humane Society 701 Russell

Rd, Newington, CT 06111 or to The Regional Hospice CT 30 Milestone Rd,

Danbury, CT 06810.