Obituary for Joann M. Wicks
Joann Maude (Carpenter) Wicks, 73, of Mansfield Center, CT, wife of Walter F. Wicks, Jr. passed away Saturday, July 2, 2022 at Windham Hospital. She was the daughter of the late George D. Carpenter, Sr. and Pauline M. (Phillips) Carpenter.
Joann was born on July 22, 1948 in Somerville, MA. In high school, she was on the varsity field hockey team. She graduated from Westford Academy in 1966. At age 18, for six months, she moved in with her Uncle Roy and Aunt Dorothy in California where she worked for the IRS. She worked and attended a nursing assistant program at the Soldiers Home in Chelsea, MA. Joann met Walter in April 1970 through her future sister-in-law, Beverly, where they were both students at the Bible Institute of New England in St. Johnsbury, VT.
Walter and Joann were married November 21, 1970 at 12:00 pm “shaaarp” by Reverend Lawrence R. Katz at Immanuel Baptist Church in Bedford, MA followed by a brief honeymoon at the Publick House in Sturbridge, MA. They first lived at the family farm on Route 14 in Windham CT. They moved to their current residence in September of 1972. In 1982, she earned her Associates degree from the Greater Hartford Community College Nursing Program. She passed her licensing exam on the first try and was proudly employed as a registered nurse for Abbey (Douglas) Manor, Vernon Manor, St. Joseph Living Center, and Staff Mates over her career. Due to a medical disability, she reluctantly stopped working in October 2000 but she kept her nursing license current until her death.
One of her hobbies was playing piano. She was an accomplished pianist and at one time owned a grand piano named “Henry” that was gifted to the music program at the University of Connecticut. She enjoyed making crafts: clay sculptures & ornaments, painting, and counted cross stitch. She authored a “how to” book for creating scenery for Department 56 Dickens’ Village pieces. She sewed baby clothes for her children and grandchildren as well as elegant bridesmaid gowns and flower girl dresses for her daughter’s wedding, but she didn’t love sewing.
Joann loved history. One of her favorite documents was the Emancipation Proclamation. She kept a copy of it in her scrapbook. George Washington and Abraham Lincoln were her favorite Presidents, but she took pride in remembering all of the presidents in order as well as trivia about each one. For Christmas, some of her favorite ornaments were a collection from the White House Historical Association.
As her husband Walter stated, “If I had to describe Joann in three words, they would be nurse, wife, and mother in that order. She was passionate about all of those roles.” She is survived by her immediate family and their spouses: Walter, her beloved husband; James Wicks and Carolyn Raupach, her children; Danielle Yuk, Bethany Wicks, Matthew Raupach, Jeremy Raupach, Nicholas Raupach, and Rebecca Raupach, her six grandchildren; and other significant family members, Katrina Wicks, Christine Deal, Dan Yuk, and Richard Raupach. She is also survived by siblings, George (Dean) Carpenter, Jr., Darlene Beard, and Paul Carpenter and his wife, Krystyna, as well as numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends, especially the Deal family. She was predeceased by her sister, Cheryl Greene, and her brother-in-law, Gary Beard.
Relatives and friends are invited to join a celebration of Joann’s life on Saturday July 9, from 2:00 to 4:00 pm at Bacon Funeral Home, 71 Prospect St., Willimantic CT. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Capital Community College Foundation / Capital Community Nursing Program Fund. https://capitalcc.networkforgood.com/projects/51598-annual-giving
Please choose Memorial: Joann Wicks. Then choose to “Notify the recipient”, James Wicks, PO Box 353, East Berlin, CT 06023 for a matching contribution. To send an online expression of sympathy, please visit www.baconfh.com
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Previous Events
Visitation
Saturday
9
Jul
2:00 PM
- 4:00 PM
Bacon Funeral Home
71 Prospect St
Willimantic, CT 06226
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