Simsbury Obituary: Joan Cashman, 85

Joan Beverly (O'Connell) Cashman, 85, of West Simsbury, beloved wife for 37 years of the late John F. Cashman, Sr., passed away peacefully on Tuesday, April 19, 2016 in Avon.

Born in Hartford on December 18, 1930, daughter of the late Gerald F. and Frances (Creedon) O'Connell, she had spent her entire life in Hartford before moving to West Simsbury 25 years ago. While living in Hartford, Joan was a parishioner of St. Augustine Church. She loved dogs, playing cards, especially cribbage, and spending time at the beach and at her camper at the lake. She was well known for her cooking and baking and her family and friends always looked forward to her special spaghetti sauce and cheese cake.

Joan loved being with her family and after raising her four children, she helped to care for her nine grandchildren as they were growing up. Most of all, Joan will be remembered for her enjoyment of the simple pleasures in life, a cigarette and a beer, catching up with her family and friends, and monitoring the local police scanner to make sure she knew what was going on and that her family was safe.

She leaves three sons, her #1 son, John F. Cashman, Jr. and his wife Nance of Tariffville, Timothy G. Cashman of Searcy, AK, and Thomas M. Cashman and his wife Luz of Manchester; a daughter, Susan F. Tager and her husband Lee of West Simsbury; nine grandchildren, David Desrosiers, Jr. and his wife Paige, Daniel Desrosiers, Brian Tager, John Cashman and his wife Kara, Caitlin D'Amour and her husband Chas, Shannon Cashman, Kimberly Bermudez, Matthew Cashman, Laura Cashman and her wife Tara Hewins, Nicole Pabe and her husband Steven Welgoss, and Nelson Pabe, Jr. and his wife Tanya; nine great grandchildren, Shane Bermudez, Alex Otero, Nolan and Whitney Desrosiers, Julian "Juju" and Jaxson Welgoss, Natalie and Nelson Pabe, and Harper Cashman; and her family's faithful dog, Paddy. Besides her husband, she was predeceased by a brother, Kenneth F. O'Connell, Sr.; and a daughter-in-law, MaryLou Cashman.

Burial will be private in Cedar Hill Cemetery, Hartford. A celebration of her life will be held on Saturday, April 30, 1 p.m., at her daughter Susan's home in West Simsbury.

Her family has requested that memorial contributions be made to the Alzheimer's Association, Connecticut Chapter, 200 Executive Boulevard, Suite 4B, Southington, CT 06489.