ORWELL – Joan Claudia (DiMello) Grant, 86, passed away at Porter Medical Center on Nov. 10, 2022, after a long illness. Joan was born in Ferrisburgh, Vt., to Antonio and Bertha DiMello, on June 7, 1936. She grew up in Ferrisburgh and Vergennes and attended Vergennes High School, graduating in 1955. She married Robert Grant of Addison in 1962, and they resided in Middlebury until 1997, when they moved to Orwell.

Joan worked many years at Mary Hogan Elementary School as a school custodian and spent many years in the later part of her life caring for elderly people, a vocation which she thoroughly enjoyed. She was an avid gardener, enjoyed yard sales and consignment shopping, produced dozens of handmade embroidered quilts and built, reconditioned and furnished doll houses, having nearly two dozen in her collection. She enjoyed the outdoors and family, especially her grandchildren.

She is survived by her husband of 60 years, Robert Grant of Orwell, and children Marsha (Michael) Shepard of Ferrisburgh, Michael (Melanie) Grant of Tallahassee, Fla., Robert (Beth) Grant Jr. of Orwell, and Joanne Lapine (Charlie Fox) of Schoharie, N.Y. She also leaves behind seven grandchildren, numerous great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews. She is predeceased by her parents, Antonio and Bertha DiMello, and three sisters: Mary Wenzel, Betty (Elizabeth) DiMello, and Irene DeMerchant.

A celebration of life event will be held on Saturday, Nov. 26, from 1:30-5 p.m. at the Middlebury American Legion Post 27, 49 Wilson Road, Middlebury.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Orwell’s First Response Rescue Squad, 604 Main Street, Orwell, Vt.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Sanderson-Ducharme Funeral Home.

Online condolences at www.sandersonfuneralservice.com. ◊