Joan Haley Sheldon

Joan Haley Sheldon of Providence Court, 379 East St in Pittsfield died surrounded by her loving family at Berkshire Place on July 23, 2013. The eldest child of William and Mildred Kellogg Haley, Joan was born January 25, 1933 in Schenectady, NY where she received her early education from the Sisters of the Holy Name at St. John the Evangelist. Here she discovered her lifelong love of music and became an accomplished pianist as a very young age. She received her secondary education at Minerva Central High School in Upstate New York. Soon after high school, Joan joined her family in Albany, NY where she met and married John “Jack” Sheldon on January 30, 1954 until his passing in February 1989. Shortly after settling in Pittsfield with Jack and their five children in 1969, Joan began working at Wendell Pharmacy on Elm St. in Pittsfield, where she remained for many years. She also enjoyed many years as an Avon representative in the Pittsfield area. A lover of crossword puzzles, gummy bears and reading, Joan was renowned for her quiet perseverance and her great ability to listen without judgment. A long time member of The Friends of Bill W., Joan maintained the Pittsfield Recovery Hotline, and was a grateful friend of the Pittsfield recovery community for nearly 44 years. She was also an active participant in several different prayer lines in the Pittsfield area. Joan’s greatest joys in life were found in her roles as mother, nana, and most recently, as “super nana.” She will be greatly missed by her children, Susan Bronner and her husband, Frank, Sandra Phillips and her husband, Kerry, Michael Sheldon and his wife, Tina, Edward Sheldon and his wife, Jamie, and Paul Sheldon and his wife, Carrie. Joan was the beloved Nana to Chris and Lisa Phillips, Melissa and Brian Rathbun, Stacey Phillips, Colleen, Samantha and Jaclyn Bronner, Jonathan and Emma Sheldon and Joshua and Benjamin Sheldon. “Super Nana” will be forever missed by Evelyn and Owen Rathbun, and Camden Phillips. Joan also leaves her siblings, Frances Feldsine, Joseph Haley and his wife, Anne, Mary Hensel, and Sara Stevens, and her husband, William, as well as many nieces and nephews. FUNERAL NOTICE: Funeral Services for Joan Haley Sheldon, who died Tuesday, July 23, will be Monday, July 29 at 9 a.m. from the Dwyer Funeral Home with a Liturgy of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. at Sacred Heart Church, celebrated by Rev. James K. Joyce, pastor. Burial will follow in Irishtown, NY. Calling hours will be Sunday, from 2 to 5 p.m. at the DWYER FUNERAL HOME, 776 North St., Pittsfield MA 01201. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Moments House in care of the Funeral home.

Joan Haley Sheldon

January 25, 1933 - July 23, 2013