Joan Osborn

Joan Draper (formerly Childs) Osborn passed away unexpectantly in her home on 2/29/2020 at the age of 89.  She was predeceased by her twin sister, Gail and her older sister, Nancy.

Joanie leaves behind her brother-in-law, Bill, and many nieces and nephews, along with grand nieces and nephews and great-grand nieces and nephews, and many friends.  Always intentional and attentive to significant dates in the lives of those she held dear, she will be lovingly remembered and missed for her hand-written birthday cards, thank you notes, and best wishes cards, in a day when sending cards is an anomaly.  She personified true etiquette and was quick to teach and train the next generation.  She was a faithful friend of Bill Wilson since 1967 offering encouragement, support, and a listening ear.

Spring was her favorite time of year, as her garden came to life with all the many plantings and perennials that she lovingly cared for.  She also enjoyed sitting on her back porch, with her faithful dog, Jessy, watching the birds partake in the many bird feeders she kept well stocked. An added blessing were the occasional deer, fox, groundhog, chipmunks and squirrels scampering through her backyard.

She worked at the United Nations in New York city as a tour guide and once retired she volunteered for many years at the Norwalk Senior Center, visiting inbound patients with her dog at the nursing homes, and participating in numerous family gatherings.

An avid reader of books and consumer of current news, she was a most informed woman without the use of modern social media connection, and using her “old school” communication skills, she was a prolific writer of unapologetic, but gracefully opinionated “Letters to the Editor” at the Norwalk Hour newspaper.

She will be missed but never forgotten.  In a journal she kept is a saying “To live in hearts we leave behind is not to die”.  May the fond memories you have of Joanie (Aunt Joanie) live on as you remember her advice, wisdom, and love that she bestowed on you individually through cards, phone calls, visits, outings, lunches, and meetings.  When we pass on what she has shared with us, we honor her legacy.

Per Joanie’s request, there will be no services and a private internment, but you can pay your respects by visiting the website: www.norwalkfh.com and posting your own personal thoughts and memories.

Any memorial donations can be made to:

American Heart Association: https://www2.heart.org/site/SPageServer?pagename=donatenow

American Lung Association: https://action.lung.org/site/Donation2?df_id=21781&mfc_pref=T&21781.donation=form1