Dr. Joan Helene Blakeslee

Dr. Joan Helene Blakeslee, 91, of Vernon, peacefully passed away in her sleep on Thursday, May 19, 2022 at her home with her beloved caregivers by her side. Born in New Haven on November 14, 1930, a daughter of the late Charles K. and Helen Z. (Dunn) Blakeslee, she had been a resident of Vernon since 1981. Dr. Helene was a graduate of Waterbury Catholic High School, class of 1948 and St. Mary’s Hospital School of Nursing in Waterbury, class of 1951 earning her RN degree. She went on to earn her BSN in Nursing in 1956 from the College of Mary Immaculate in West Hartford, which was an affiliate of Catholic University, Washington, DC. She earned her MS in Biology in 1960 from Catholic University and her MD degree in 1967 from the University of Ottawa in Ottawa, Canada.

Dr. Helene did her internship at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Brighton, MA and her residency in Internal medicine at St. Francis Hospital in Hartford from 1968 to 1971 where she was the Chief Medical Resident in 1971. She had her own private practice for over ten years in Internal Medicine before going to work at Travelers Insurance Company in Hartford for over twelve years as Assistant Medical Director and Medical Director for Insurance Medicine. She was also a former member of the Connecticut State Board of Medical Examiners; Mercyknoll Medical Staff; New Hope Manor Board of Directors; John XXIII Intercommunity Retirement Program for Religious; Hartford County Medical Association; Hartford Medical Society; Connecticut State Medical Society; Alumni Associations of St. Mary’s Hospital School of Nursing, Catholic University of America, and University of Ottawa School of Medicine; American Association of Life Insurance Medical Directors; American Council of Life Insurance; and Board of Trustees of Tabor House in Hartford.

A talented singer, Dr. Helene was a former member of the Traveler’s Choral Club, Sacred Heart Catholic Church Choir in Vernon, and St. Paul’s Church Choir in Glastonbury. She enjoyed listening to classical music, reading, watching “quiz programs” on television, building and repairing things around her home, and most of all caring for people.

She is survived by her longtime dear friend and caregiver, Carole J. Cipolla of Vernon with whom she made her home; a second cousin, Lynn Sample; friends, Gaylene Sudano of South Windsor, and Raelene Cronin of Manchester; and many other friends, co-workers, and former patients that she cared for.

Funeral service will be Monday (May 23, 2022) at 10:30 am from the D’Esopo East Hartford Memorial Chapel, 30 Carter Street, East Hartford with a Mass of Christian Burial celebrated at 11 am at St. Christopher Church of St. Edmund Campion Parish, 538 Brewer Street, East Hartford. Burial will follow at Mount Saint Benedict Cemetery, (Section Y), Bloomfield. Relatives and friends may call at the funeral home chapel on Monday morning (May 23rd) from 9:30 – 10:30 am. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Dr. Helene’s name may be made to the Felician Sisters, c/o Sister Mary Laurianne, 1315 Enfield Street, Enfield, CT 06082. For on-line expressions of sympathy to the family, please visit www.desopoeh.com.