This is a printer-friendly version of an article from Zip06.com.

Joan Doyle DeFrancesco of Branford died March 15 at Yale-New Haven Hospital. She was the beloved wife of the late Raymond W. DeFrancesco. Joan was born in Bridgeport Nov. 21, 1932, daughter of the late Lawrence and Ethel Howard Doyle.

She was a teacher at St. Mary School in Branford for many years until retiring. Joan was a proud Irish woman who married an Italian and became a great Italian cook. She was an avid sports fan, attending countless games while her husband was coach and athletic director at Southern Connecticut State University. Joan and Ray enjoyed traveling with their college friends and enjoyed their winters in Naples, Florida.

Joan is survived by her children Nancy Butler of Branford, Raymond (Caryl) DeFrancesco of Branford, Mary (Ernest) Glidden of Las Vegas, Nevada, William (Tamara) DeFrancesco of Albany, New York, and Christopher DeFrancesco of Branford; nine grandchildren; and one great-grandchild. She was predeceased by her brother Larry Doyle and her sister Nancy Amundson.

Her funeral left the W.S. Clancy Memorial Funeral Home, 244 N. Main St., Branford, March 18 for a Mass of Christian burial in St. Mary Church of St. John Bosco Parish, Branford. Burial followed in St. Agnes Cemetery. Visiting hours were March 17. For an online memorial, see www.wsclancy.com.