On a cold winter’s night with blustery winds, on Jan. 23, 2024, our beautiful mom, Joan Law, passed away peacefully with family and her faithful dog beside her. Joan was born March 13, 1935, to William and Marion Reiss in New Haven.

She spent her youth in West Haven. With a host of cousins living next door, there were a lot of fun times and memories with the large family going to the summer cottage on the beach each year. It was a very happy childhood. The family moved to Guilford in 1948. She graduated from Guilford High School, where she met friends that she treasured throughout her life. She met the love of her life, Charles Sayward Law, and they married in 1957. Together, they raised three daughters in a home by the water in Clinton.

Joan loved her neighborhood. While raising her children, Joan hosted a lot of neighborhood kids in the family pool, and she had a high tolerance for their shenanigans. Joan, along with her dear friend and neighbor, ran the This & That Antique business for years. She passed down her love of antiques to one of her daughters. Joan had many interests. She loved to garden, play bridge, and go antiquing, and she was an avid reader of books. She loved to sew and watch NASCAR racing on TV and at the racetracks. All of these being amongst her most favorites. A strong woman of faith, she was kind, thoughtful, and generous and loved being with her family the most. She lent a hand wherever she could.

Both Joan and Chuck loved to travel around the country in their RV, visiting friends and taking cruises. Alaska and Bermuda trips were their favorites. Anywhere there was salt water, she was the happiest. Joan and Chuck volunteered for Meals on Wheels in Clinton for over 20 years. Chuck passed away two years ago, and during that time, she spent a lot of time enjoying her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, along with her dear friends.

Besides her parents, she was predeceased by her husband, Charles Sayward Law. She leaves to cherish her memory Kimberly (Glen) Rice of Old Lyme, Laura (Damon) Hall of Clinton, and Virginia (Christopher) Brestelli of Deep River; grandchildren: Dr. Jessica Parr (late Charlie Parr) of Salida, Colorado; Meredith (JB) Lynch of Concord, Massachusetts; Adam Brestelli of Deep River, and Travis (Bryce) Brestelli of Westbrook; great-grandchildren, Oliver and Cooper Lynch and Charlotte Brestelli. She also leaves her brother Timothy (Nikki) Reiss of Murrells Inlets, South Carolina, and a host of nieces and nephews, her cherished dog Miley, and very dear friends. She was predeceased by brother William Reiss; and sister Deborah Onofrio.

The family wishes to thank Lara and Mari from the Middlesex Home Hospice and the rest of the team for the wonderful care and support she received. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to any animal rescue, the Shoreline Food Pantry, or a cause near and dear to your heart.

Friends are invited to a Funeral Mass at 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 24, which will be celebrated at St. Mary’s Church of the Visitation, 54 Grove Street, Clinton. Burial will be held privately. There are no calling hours. Arrangements in care of the Guilford Funeral Home, 115 Church Street, Guilford. To share a memory or leave condolences, visit www.guilfordfuneralhome.com.