Joan Y. Miller

Joan Y. Miller, 82, of Wethersfield, loving and devoted wife of Donald G. Miller for 60 years, passed away peacefully Sunday, August 30, 2015 at Hartford Hospital with her family by her side. She was born in Royers Ford, Pennsylvania on May 28, 1933 and was the daughter of the late J. Everett and Florence (Witt) Yerk. Joan was awarded a full scholarship to Hahnemann Hospital, School of Nursing, graduating in 1954 as a Registered Nurse. She was employed by Hartford Hospital and later, because of her compassion for the elderly, Avery Heights Nursing Home. As a long standing member of the First Church of Christ in Wethersfield, Joan looked after infants in the crib room on Sundays for 25 years. For many years she found great pleasure rearranging the pulpit flowers every Monday into smaller arrangements to distribute to shut-ins, seniors and those that were ill. Joan was a truly selfless person with a quick wit. She loved parades, the Rhode Island shore, carousels, celebrating birthdays and especially the Christmas Holiday. Nana made each Christmas a spectacular event with the uncanny knack of knowing what each grandchild would treasure.

She will be dearly missed by her family, friends and the many young people she met through her grandchildren, whom all called her Nana. Besides her husband Donald, she is survived by her children, Sharon Spellman and husband, John, Linda Rotondaro and husband, John, all of Wethersfield and Daniel G. Miller of Delray Beach, Florida. Joan also leaves her sister, Faye Strassman and husband, Dr. Selig Strassman of Chagrin Falls, Ohio; seven adored grandchildren, Lauren Putnam and husband, Reid, Carrie Maisano and husband, Tom, Taylor Spellman, Andrew Rotondaro, Summer Spellman, Johnny Rotondaro and Sam Spellman and five cherished great-grandchildren, Riley, Bailey, Bella, Charlie and Tommy. She also leaves behind her brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Fred and Dot Miller of New Holland, PA, as well as several nieces and nephews.

A Celebration of Joan’s Life will be held Sunday (September 20) at 12 noon at the D’Esopo Funeral Chapel, 277 Folly Brook Boulevard, Wethersfield. Calling hours will be 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the chapel that morning. Donations in Joan’s memory may be made to the Connecticut Children’s Medical Center Foundation, Inc., 282 Washington St., Hartford, CT 06106 or to the Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675. To share a memory of Joan with the family, please visit www.desopo.com.