Love Of A Lifetime: Branford Couple Dies 2 Days Apart

BRANFORD, CT — It was a love story that lasted a lifetime for John A. Hess Jr., 90, and his wife Joan F. Hess, 85, who died this week within two days of one another. John Hess passed away on Halloween and his wife died two days later on her birthday. They were married for 65 years, according to the W.S. Clancy Memorial Funeral Home.

John Hess was born in Meriden and grew up in Shelton before moving with his wife, Joan, to Branford where they lived for 60 years. Joan Hess was born and grew up in New Haven.

John Hess was a World War II veteran, with service in the U.S. Navy aboard the U.S.S. Macon. "John was a gentle man who enjoyed family time and automobiles. He worked for 44 years with Cooley and McDermott Chevrolet dealerships in New Haven," his obituary states.

Joan worked for St. Mary School, private physicians and the Knights of Columbus in New Haven, all while caring for her family as a wife, mother and grandmother, her obituary states. The Hess' also had a profound religious faith.

"Joan had an unwavering faith in God. She was a member of St. Mary Church in Branford. Over the years, she had become very involved with the parish school and church and serviced numerous vocations for the parish," her obituary states.

In John's spare time he enjoyed hiking and working on cars. The Hess' were "extremely caring and proud of (their) three children, Kathleen Hoyt (David) of Fallston, MD, Elizabeth Bruenn (Sean) of Navarre, FL and John Hess III (Suzanne) of Guilford.

John Hess is also survived by his brother Charles Hess of Gainesville, GA and sister Ellen Hess of Branford; as well as his nine adoring grandchildren: Virginia, Leslie and Emily Hoyt; Sean and Kyle Bruenn; Ashley, John IV, Lauren and Justin Hess and many nieces, nephews and friends.

Joan Hess was predeceased by her sister Mary Robinson. Joan is survived by her sister, Alice Naclerio of New Haven and her brother, Thomas Farrell of East Haven; as well as her nine adoring grandchildren: Virginia, Leslie and Emily Hoyt; Sean and Kyle Bruenn; Ashley, John IV, Lauren and Justin Hess and many nieces, nephews and friends.

In honor of John and Joan's life together, their family will receive friends on Saturday, November 4, 2017 from 8:30 until 10:00 a.m. at W.S. Clancy Memorial Funeral Home, 244 North Main Street, Branford. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated jointly at 10:30 at St. Mary Church, Branford. Burial with military honors will follow in St. Agnes Cemetery, Branford.

Memorial donations may be made in John’s name to the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America, 322 Eighth Avenue, 7th Floor, New York, NY 10001.

Memorial donations may be made in Joan’s name to the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 22478, Oklahoma City, OK 73123. To send flowers or a remembrance gift to the family of John and Joan Hess, you can visit the funeral home's Tribute Store.

Image via Shutterstock and W.S. Clancy Memorial Funeral Home