Joan Downes
In Memory of
Joan M.
Downes (Hutchings)
2017
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Gaffney - Dolan Funeral Home
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Obituary for Joan M. Downes (Hutchings)

Joan M.  Downes (Hutchings)
Joan M. (Hutchings) Downes, 83, of Ross Hill Road, Charlestown, went home to be with the Lord on Saturday, December 9, 2017 at the home of her daughter Diane D. Bardwell in North Stonington. She was the wife of the late George A. Downes who predeceased her in 2002.

Born in Westerly, she was the daughter of the late Thomas and Blanche (Fraquelli) Hutchings. She attended Bradford School and went on to graduate from Westerly High School and was member of the RI Honor Society.

Joan’s greatest passion was spending time with her family but she also enjoyed roller skating in earlier years, knitting, reading and had a talent for sketching, water colors and took art classes for years with her sister Carol. She gave advice and blessed friends and family with cards of encouragement and many times cards, paintings and bookmarks from her original designs. Joan also loved to travel which included taking many cruises and trips to Europe.

Joan was an active member of the Niantic Baptist Church. She volunteered at the Bradford Jonnycake Ctr., the Westerly Library yearly book fair and she was instrumental in fighting for the Concerned Citizens of RI which opposed (and won) a power plant going into her home town of Charlestown.

Joan worked for Westerly Sun for 42 years and was manager of Sun Graphics Printing Co. before retiring. As an antique dealer she and her good friend Anna Crandall shared the antique business “Stuff & Nonsense” for many years.

She leaves behind her daughter Diane D. Bardwell and her husband Richard of North Stonington; a sister Carol Spargo and her husband Robert of Westerly; three grandchildren, Richard MacCall Jr. (Tiffany), Andrew Bardwell (Sarah) and Ben Bardwell; as well as two great grandchildren; two sisters-in-law, Myra Ball and husband John of Charlestown and Mary Ribiero and husband Tony of Westerly; and several nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made in Joan’s memory to the First Baptist Church of Charlestown, 5074 Old Post Rd. Charlestown, RI 02813 or Center for Hospice Care, 227 Dunham St., Norwich CT 06360 for whom the family is grateful for being so caring and helpful in Joan’s last days.

Funeral service and burial will be private. A Celebration of Joan’s Life will be held at a date and time to be announced. Gaffney-Dolan Funeral Home, 59 Spruce St., Westerly is in charge of the arrangements. For online condolences please visit www.gaffneydolanfuneralhome.com

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