Joan Marie (Kelly) Mudge, 72, of Chester, died on Jan. 17 after a courageous battle with cancer. She was the beloved wife of 48 years to Edward Mudge. Joni was born in Lackawanna, New York, on July 1, 1940, daughter of the late Mildred Wright Kelly and the late John Kelly. She especially loved her grandson Randy Mudge and was most disappointed that she would not be able to see him graduate from high school.

Joni graduated from Valley Regional High School and enjoyed camping on Cape Cod every summer. She was also an avid amateur photographer, and two of her favorite subjects were her dog Peanut and her bird Doobie. She had worked at the Connecticut Valley Industrial and Professional Park for the last seven years and at several area businesses prior to that.

Besides her husband and grandson, she is survived by her loving sisters, Kathleen Rosal and Colleen Wright; her loving children, Cossette Faith Francis, Martin Mudge, and Kenneth Mudge; and her granddaughters, Tori Mudge and Cossette Francis. She is also survived by an extended family and numerous friends of many years.

There are no calling hours. A memorial service in celebration of her life will be held at the Deep River Congregational Church, with a reception to follow on Feb. 9 at 3 p.m.  In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Middlesex Memorial Hospital Hospice Unit.