Obituary: Joan Roberta McDonald Calli

Information via W.S. Clancy Memorial Funeral Home in Branford

Joan Roberta McDonald Calli peacefully passed on to the next phase of her journey with family by her side on April 20, 2016. She was born in Port Arthur, Ontario, Canada on February 15, 1929 to beloved parents and grandparents, Charles and Sylvia (Hamer) McDonald.

Joan attended college in Chicago, Illinois at George Williams College, where she met her former husband, Albert Calli, with whom she had 6 children; Rory Manaro of Wilmington, North Carolina, the late Albert Calli of Winter Park, Colorado, Lisa Dannheim (Gunther) of Branford, CT, Charles Calli of Portland, ME, Felicia Hiscock (Rick) or Orangeville, Ontario, and Paul Calli (Liangy) of Miami, FL. She is also survived by 16 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren.

Joan was committed to advocating for, educating and improving the lives of children and adults with disabilities.

She lived in five states while raising her family, always continuing her contributions to the advancement of people with disabilities. By example, she taught her children acceptance and inclusion, which undoubtedly influenced their children's personal and professional lives.

Joan worked as a teacher both while they lived in Colorado and while in Connecticut at The Children's Center in Hamden. She was also a teacher, and eventually a principal, of Stonegate School in Durham, Connecticut.

Joan later worked as Director of Admissions and Director of Marketing at Lake Grove School in Durham. When living in Warm Springs, Georgia, she was employed by the Meriwether County Center and in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Joan worked in therapeutic recreation for a local health care center.

Later, after moving back to Connecticut, she was employed by the city of New Haven, Office of Workers Compensation. During that time, she earned a master's degree in counseling from Southern Connecticut State University and then worked as a counselor for Marrakech, Inc, in New Haven, CT.

Joan loved life! She had a good sense of humor, was an avid reader, enjoyed good conversation, playing the piano, and was a sports enthusiast, especially for her children's teams and the Boston Red Sox. Joan participated in many community service activities and volunteered her time on several committees throughout her lifetime, including the First Branford Festival Committee and, while living in Warm Springs, Georgia, she actively campaigned for then Governor Jimmy Carter. She often said, however, that of all her life experiences, "having 6 children was the most wonderful thing I have ever done!"

Her family would like to express their genuine and heartfelt gratitude to the people at Branford Hills Health Care Center and Connecticut Hospice for their assistance, compassion and exceptional care while she was there, as well as to our many friends for their love and support throughout her later years.

A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in St. Therese Church, 105 Leetes Island Road, Branford, CT on Saturday May 14, 2016 at 11:00 A.M. Friends are invited to visit with the family at church before Mass, starting at 10:15. A private burial service will be held in Port, Arthur, Ontario, Canada. The W.S. Clancy Memorial Funeral Home in Branford is in care of arrangements.

Memorial contributions in Joan Calli's memory may be made to Branford Hills Resident Memorial Fund, in care of Jodi Bissonnette, 189 Alps Road, Branford, CT 06405 or to Connecticut Hospice, 100 Double Beach Rd. Branford, CT 06405.