Joan Marie Henebry

Joan Marie Henebry of Old Saybrook, CT, passed away peacefully on Sunday, August 31, 2025 at Gladeview Health Care Center at the age of 95. Joan was born on October 31, 1929 in Bronx, NY. She was the daughter of the late Annina V Barbera (Cucchiarella) and Edward G Barbera.

Joan grew up in Elmsford, NY and went to work for the Nestle Company in White Plains, NY. There she met her first husband Robert F Connelly and they were married in 1956. They moved to Clinton, CT where they worked for Chesebrough Ponds. In 1962, she adopted her daughter, Catherine Ann. They were moved to London, England for work in 1964 for two years where she made many lifelong friends and returned to settle in Old Saybrook, CT. In 1967 she adopted her son Robert John. Joan was divorced in 1972 and moved with her children to Deep River, CT where she lived for more than 35 years. Joan started a new career in 1972 working for the Middletown Savings Bank which later became Liberty Bank for Savings. She started in the mortgage department and eventually moved her way to be the Executive Assistant to the President of Liberty Bank where she retired in 1990. In 1991, she married her love Philip Henebry of Deep River, CT where they enjoyed 10 wonderful years of marriage until his passing in December 2001. They loved to travel throughout New England and the mid-West. Joan moved into Saybrook Village living independently until the age of 93. She made many friends over her 18 years there. She lived at Gladeview Health Care Center in Old Saybrook for her last two years, where she loved and was loved by the amazing nurses and staff. She was also under the incredible care of Middlesex Home Hospice Program for more than two years.

Joan was an avid walker, often logging three to four miles a day and was easily spotted on Main Street in Deep River and Old Saybrook. She was a prolific writer of poetry, often writing poems for friends and family to commemorate special events. Joan enjoyed visiting museums and learning about art and the artists, even taking painting classes well into her 90’s. Above all, Joan was devoted to her children, Catherine Ann Muller and her husband Scott Muller, Robert John Connelly and his wife Maureen Maher Connelly as well as her five grandchildren, Robert Muller with wife Michelle Muller, Caroline Muller Rayburg with her husband Dan Rayburg , Ian James Connelly, Devon John Connelly and Lila Summer-Rose Connelly and her four great grandchildren, Madeline Muller, Lainey Muller, Carter Rayburg and Calvin Rayburg. She was so loved as Mom, Grandma, Teeny Grandma, and most recently Teeny Great-Grandma.

She is preceded in death by her parents Annina Vivian and Edward G Barbera and siblings Lucille Barbera, Marilyn Bianco, Gregory Barbera, Warren Barbera and John Barbera as well as her husband Philip Henebry. The family would like to extend our most sincere gratitude to the caring nurses and staff of Gladeview Health Care Center and to the nurses and administrators of Middlesex Home Hospice Program for their tireless care and compassion for her final journey. They showed her love that can’t be bought and tucked her in at night with the words “Into the arms of Morpheus”. We will be forever grateful.

Visiting Hours will be held in the Swan Funeral Home, 1224 Boston Post Road, Old Saybrook, CT on Saturday, September 13th from 12:30-2pm with funeral service to follow at the funeral home. Gathering to follow at Scotch Plains Tavern, 124 Westbrook Road, Essex, CT 06426 from 3-5pm.