Joan Fries, 74, of Marlborough, formerly of Wethersfield, passed away peacefully on February 16, 2020. Joan was born on August 13, 1945 and was the daughter of the late Joseph and Dorothy (Bublitz) Bonin. Joan attended Wethersfield schools, graduating Wethersfield High School in 1963. A dedicated nurse, Joan started her career as a volunteer “Candy Striper” at Hartford Hospital. She received her nursing degree at Hartford Hospital School of Nursing and began her 45 year career there. Over the years she worked in several departments her favorite being the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. She loved caring for “her babies” and was always a devoted advocate for them. Throughout her career and her life, Joan was very passionate about everyone being treated properly, fairly and with the utmost respect. As a result, she spearheaded the process of forming the nurse’s union at Hartford Hospital that exists to this day. She was a leader in speaking for those who could not advocate for themselves and was well respected in the nursing community for her dedication. Joan was instrumental in creating a Psychiatric Program, North Central Mental Health, which served five communities. All of these communities would have otherwise not received care for themselves had it not been for Joan’s determination. Joan also had the opportunity to work with State Representative Linda Orange. She was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary Post 197, the NRA 2957810, the Marlborough Board of Education, along with the Lake Terramuggus Association. Joan lived her entire adult life in Marlborough. Her passion for protecting the lake went above and beyond. Because of her love of children, Joan was the co-director for many years at Camp Hemlock in Hebron where she worked with special needs children. Joan was especially devoted to her family, in addition to the love she had for her own children, her family will always remember how much fun she was and they all have such wonderful memories of her.
Joan will be missed by her son Kevin and his wife Dawn of Colchester, her sister Elizabeth (Bonin) Hence and her husband Phillip of South Windsor, her brothers Jack Bonin and his wife Joan of Marlborough, Robert Bonin and his wife Mary Anne of Wethersfield, Timothy Bonin and Pam Singarella of Sturbridge, MA. Her cherished grandchildren, Adam, Tyler and Alissa Cafro, Emma, Scott and Ryan Fries and her great granddaughter Piper. In addition she leaves numerous nieces, and nephews and her great-grand nieces and nephews who she adored. Joan also leaves several cousins and many dear friends including George Birner, Sr. of Bennington, VT. In addition to her parents, Joan was predeceased by her daughter Mary Ellen Fries and her brother Donald Bonin.
Joan’s family would like to thank her special neighbor Jan who Joan considered her “angel”. In addition she leaves her former husband Craig Fries. Memorial donations in Joan’s memory may be made to the High Hopes Therapy Horseback Riding, c/o Emma Fries, 36 Town Woods Road, Old, Lyme, CT 06371 or the Hartford Hospital Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, 80 Seymour Street, Hartford, CT 06102.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, February 22nd at 10:30 a.m. at Christ the King Parish (Corpus Christi Church), 601 Silas Deane Highway, Wethersfield. Burial will follow at Holy Cross Cemetery, 1318 Hebron Avenue, Glastonbury. At Joan’s request, there will be no calling hours. For online expressions of sympathy to the family, please visit www.desopofuneralchapel.com.
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