Obituary of Joan Louise Keith

Joan Louise Keith, 79, of Fairmount Street, Putnam, passed away January 21, 2011. Born August 3, 1931, in Cohoes, NY, she was the daughter of the late Maude A. (Perkins) and Harry Mason Keith.

She graduated from Putnam High School in 1949 and attended Quinebaug Valley Community College. She worked for 30 years at CL & P, many years as a dispatcher in Danielson. Joan was a member of the Congregational Church of Putnam for 63 years, where she taught Sunday School, was formerly a head deaconess of the church, a member of the Christian Education Committee, chairperson of the Local & World Outreach, as well as other committees and boards of the church. She was also a member of the Putnam High School Alumni Association, Putnam Grange #97 where she served as lecturer, chaplain, and chairman of deaf activities, Chairperson of Quinebaug Pomona #2, Women's Board at Day Kimball Hospital, Harmony Court - Order of Amaranth, Boston Mineral Club, Audubon Society, Secretary/Treasurer of South Cemetery Association for many years. She volunteered at the Day Kimball Hospital, Daily Bread, Northeast Soup Kitchen, RSVP Peer Program, and also enjoyed the Windham County 4-H.

She leaves one sister, Gloria A. Danielson, nieces Heidi Lee (Danielson) Bzdyra and her husband James, Holly Lynn (Danielson) Harder and Tara Lee Salvas, nephews Hans Leonard Danielson and his wife Marlea, and Justin Keith Salvas and his wife Sandra, 5 great nephews Jacob and Caleb Harder, Alexander Bzydra, and Mason and Brody Danielson, and a great-niece Jaime Bzdyra, an aunt and uncle, Jean and Ralph Foster, and several cousins, including Norma Burnett and Wayne Keith. She was predeceased by her brother, Harry Mason Keith, Jr., and a sister, Judith Jean (Keith) Salvas.

The Funeral will be Saturday, January 29, 2011 at 2:00 PM at the Congregational Church of Putnam, 175 Main Street, Putnam. Calling Hours will be Friday from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at the Smith and Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove Street, Putnam. Burial in the Spring in Barlow Cemetery, Woodstock.

Arrangements by Smith and Walker Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Joan's memory to the Congregational Church of Putnam, PO Box 463, Putnam, CT 06260. To share a memory with the family, Light a Candle at www.smithandwalkerfh.com