Joan Ann Esposito, of Wallingford, Conn., died Sept. 6 after a brief illness. Born July 17, 1936 in New Haven, Conn., Joan graduated from St. Mary’s High School in New Haven. Before retiring, Joan worked for over two decades caring for those afflicted by Alzheimer’s at the Masonic Home and Hospital in Wallingford, Conn.
Joan’s family immigrated from County Tipperary, Ireland and includes many relatives living in the New Haven area. Her extended family included the Cummings family, Mary, Johanna Butler, James, Edmund, William, and Patrick; and the O Brien family, John, Michael, Katherine, Margret and Alice all deceased.
In 1969, Joan married the love of her life; Charles Esposito, Sr. Joanie and Uncle Charlie settled in New Haven to raise their family.
Joan was the beloved mother of son, Tom Hoepner of Damariscotta, grandmother of 14, including grandsons, Daniel Hoepner of Wiscasset, and Joshua Hoepner of Damariscotta, great-grandmother of six, and aunt of two nieces and five nephews. Joan looked forward to her annual trek to Maine every summer to visit her “Maine Boys” and of course enjoy the traditional “lobster feed”. Joan’s home was always a safe and loving refuge for family and friends.
Joan is predeceased by her husband Charles, Sr.; son-in-law, John Wronowski; daughter-in-law, Nicki Archangelo Hoepner; her parents, Ellen Nellie Gilbride and John Elwood Gilbride of New Haven, Conn.; brother, Francis Gilbride of Washington state; sister, Eleanor Gilbride/Croce Dumond and brother-in-law, Arthur Dumond of Newport, R.I.
She is survived by her two daughters, Ellen Hoepner Cahill, and Lenora Hoepner Wronowski; five sons, John Hoepner, Ferdinand “Chip” Hoepner, Thomas Hoepner, James Hoepner, and Anthony Esposito; her life long friend and cousin, Marion Cummings Sullivan of Hamden, Conn., and many cousins from the Gilbride family, including New York Giants Offensive Coordinator, Kevin Gilbride.
Visiting hours will be in the evening on Wed., Sept. 10 at Sisk Brothers Funeral Home, Whitney Ave., Hamden, Conn., with a graveside burial Thurs., Sept. 11 in Hamden, Conn.
