Joan (Marinelli) D'Esopo

Joan (Marinelli) D’Esopo, formerly of East Hartford, Wethersfield, Old Saybrook and Hobe Sound, FL, passed away on Monday, November 30, 2020.  Born in Hartford on September 9, 1938, she was the daughter of the late Lawrence and Helen (Misseri) Marinelli.

Joan was a tireless lover of life and family.  She enjoyed keeping active with golf, tennis and long walks.  She had many friends and entertained often.  Joan enjoyed music and dancing and it was these things that brought her joy after her husband was gone.  Joan was an excellent cook and would often come to parties with armloads of homemade devil dogs; a family favorite.  She had an affinity to all the neighborhood dogs (and they to her) and kept biscuits for them when they walked by.  Joan was a talented artist and has created many beautiful and intricate watercolor paintings.  Most of all, Joan loved her family, especially her husband Dan of fifty-seven years.  She cared for him selflessly until the end.  She never stopped asking about her grandchildren who she loved dearly and deeply.  She was known for serenading them with a birthday song, sending care packages and gifts.  She would light up with stories about her great grandsons and took comfort in hearing about their milestones and asking with a grin, “Are they fresh?”

Joan leaves her daughter, Elaine Lyman and son-in-law, John Lyman, III of Middlefield; son, Daniel L. D’Esopo and Robin Urbanec of Middletown; five grandchildren, Adam Lyman and his wife, Chrissy, Sarah Lyman, Laura Lyman, Daniel D’Esopo and Kevin D’Esopo and two great grandsons, John Lyman and Daniel Lyman.

Along with her parents, Joan was predeceased by her husband, Daniel J. D’Esopo and two sisters, Loretta Crestino and Marlene Scioscio.

Burial and services will be private in Mount St. Benedict Cemetery in Bloomfield.  In lieu of flowers, donations in Joan’s memory may be made to Masonic Charity Foundation of Connecticut, P.O. Box 70, Wallingford, CT 06492.  To share memories or send condolences to the family, please visit www.doolittlefuneralservice.com.

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