Joan Wilkie Hartwell

Joan Wilkie Hartwell, age 89, of Lily Pond Rd, Lyndonville, VT passed away peacefully on February 5^th, 2024. Joan was born in Springfield, MA on March 18^th, 1934, daughter of Hortense Wilkie Smith.

She grew up in St Johnsbury, attended St. Johnsbury Academy and was the salutatorian of her class in 1952. Soon after graduating she started work at Ralston Purina Company. She met her husband Everett Hartwell, they married in 1955 and built a home in East Haven, VT where they raised their three children.

For a time she was a homemaker but her love of numbers drew her back to the workforce. She took on additional roles, first as an auditor and then treasurer for the town of East Haven. Over the years she worked at various state agencies that provided services to Vermonters, briefly at the Tap & Die Credit Union, and then bookkeeping for the Murphy family motel business. She retired in 1993.

Numerology was a passion of hers; she would find a penny, pick it up, and look at the year to see which of her passed loved ones might be thinking of her. She was fascinated with the dates of life events and how they correlated to herself and those she held close. This love of numbers also spilt over into the many numbers games she enjoyed playing with her grandchildren and friends.

She also enjoyed watching NASCAR racing, with her favorites being Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt, bowling on a league at Gold Crown Lanes and spending time with her beloved labs over the years.

She found such pleasure in a pretty view, a backyard cookout with family and friends, a walk in the woods, or a thoughtful conversation – it was the simple things that mattered most to her.

She was the type of mother and friend that you turned to when you just needed someone to listen. She provided a guiding light without judgement, you always felt her compassion and warmth, and at conversation end, your load seemed lighter.

Mom, we will miss your loving hugs, gentle demeanor, and how easy it always was to make you laugh and smile. Your simple ways inspire us and provide the kind of contentment found in those with happy, grateful souls.

She is survived by her son Michael Hartwell (Annie) Elizabethton, TN, daughters Nancy Graves (Fred) Sutton and Jody Garfield (Doug) Sutton, cousin Ginny Hammond (Bill), Laconia, NH, brother-in-law Steve Hartwell (Debbie), Island Pond, VT, grandchildren Alannah, Jacob, Nathan, Tyler, Jayvin, and Leanne, great grandson Talen, and many nieces and nephews.

She is predeceased by her mother Hortense Wilkie Smith; stepfather Kenneth Smith; husband Everett Hartwell; Son-in-law Howard Spencer; and best friend Barbara Woodward (Ralph).

A final thought, by Maya Angelou: I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.

A funeral will be held at the Sutton Baptist Church, 36 Church St, Sutton, VT Saturday February 17, 2024 at 11:00 AM. A private burial will be held in the spring at the East Haven cemetery.

Memorial contributions can be made in her memory to the Alzheimer’s Association, Vermont Chapter, 75 Talcott Road, Suite 40, Williston, VT 05495, or an animal shelter of your choice.

Memories and condolences may be shared with the family at guibordfh.com