Joan Franko

Lyndonville, VT: Joan Marie Franko, age 90, of Cotton Road, passed peacefully at St. Johnsbury Health & Rehab on Tuesday night, June 3, 2025, following a recent decline in health, and is now at peace.

Joan was born on January 30, 1935, in Hempstead, NY, daughter to the late William and Mary (Dargan) Bolch. She was raised and educated in Rockville Centre, NY and graduated from Malverne High School in the Class of 1952. On November 27, 1955, she married Thomas Franko. Joan worked as a secretary in educational settings all her life, initially on Long Island. The family moved to Vermont in 1963, and over the years, Joan worked at Lyndon State College, Vermont State Library, South Burlington Middle School, and at Dartmouth. She enjoyed reading, cooking & baking, doing jigsaw puzzles, taking camping road trips, and country living. For 30 years, she and Tom wintered in Florida, taking their travel trailer and making stops along the way, to and fro.

Joan is survived by her beloved husband of nearly 70 years, Thomas, of Lyndonville, her 2 daughters: Carol Sargent and husband, Thomas, of Moravian Falls, NC; Sue Cooley and husband, John, of White River Jct., VT; 4 grandchildren: Fletcher Sargent (Carlie) of Moravian Falls, NC, Jessie Resch (Chris) of Lee’s Summit, MO, Thomas Cooley (Shayna Guild) of White River Jct., VT, and Laura Cooley of Colchester, VT; 5 great-grandchildren: Nick, Alexa, Emma & Isla Resch, and Eleanor Sargent, and many loving nieces and nephews.

Joan was predeceased by 3 siblings: William Bolch, Dorothy Doughty, and George Bolch.

A gathering of family and friends will be held from 3-5PM on Thursday, June 19, 2025, at the Guibord-Pearsons Funeral Home, 15 Main Street in Lyndonville, VT. Interment will be at a future date.

Donations may be made to Lyndon Rescue, PO Box 401, Lyndonville, Vermont 05851.

Memories and condolences may be shared with family at CaledoniaLifeServices.com.