Joan Lynch Sienko, a resident of Wethersfield, CT, and Quonochontaug, RI, died peacefully after a brief illness on November 18, 2023, with her family by her side. She was 85. Born in Hartford, CT, to Robert D. Lynch and Helen (Mahoney) Lynch, Joan grew up in West Hartford, CT and was the youngest of six children. She was educated in the West Hartford schools and graduated from Saint Joseph College with a degree in teaching. In 1960, Joan married Norman E. Sienko and settled in Wethersfield where she raised three children and taught at the Wethersfield Cooperative Nursery School for 18 years. Married for 63 years, Joan and Norm enjoyed traveling with family and friends and loved spending their summers in Quonnie, where they built lifelong friendships and wonderful memories. Joan’s deep Catholic faith was always her guide and her family was foremost in her life. Her greatest joy came from spending time with her children and grandchildren. Joan was an award-winning quilter and was a prolific member of the Red Onion Quilters group and the Prayer Shawl Ministry at the Church of the Incarnation. She created hundreds of quilts and prayer shawls to comfort those in need and in addition, handmade many beautiful quilts for family and friends. Joan was also an avid reader and served on the Wethersfield Library Board.
Joan is survived by her loving husband Norm, her three children: Mary-Eleanor (Kevin), Ned (Sue) and Chris (Donna), six grandchildren: Tom (Katherine), Brian, Kate, Tim, Emilie and Christopher, and many nieces and nephews and she was predeceased by her parents and her siblings: Mary-Eleanor, Bob, Eileen, Marge and Dick.
There will be visitation with the family on Wednesday, November 22, 2023, 8:30 am – 10:30 am at Farley Sullivan Funeral Home, 34 Beaver Road in Wethersfield, CT. A funeral Mass will follow at 11:00 am at the Church of the Incarnation, 544 Prospect Street, Wethersfield, CT.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital. To extend condolences, please visit Farleysullivan.com.