Joan B. King, 79, of Yardley, Penn., died December 10 in her home, with the love and support of her family and home hospice team. She was born in Bridgeport, June 24, 1935, a daughter of the late Elvira and Salvatore Bochino. Her husband-to-be was born the same week, in the same hospital, St Vincent’s. They were destined to be soul mates. 

Joan and Bob King were married in 1956 and moved to Sandy Hook in 1958, to a home that her father built on Paugussett Road. Her father built the whole neighborhood, after closing down his car racetrack that was on that land.

They were very involved in the Newtown community. Mrs King was an elementary school teacher at Sandy Hook School and Hawley Elementary School, for a 25-year career. She continued to hear at times from past students.

The Kings were very active in the Marriage Encounter Community in Newtown, and have been friends with the other families there for more than 40 years.

They were both members of St Ann’s Melkite Church in Danbury. Mrs King was involved nationally in the church organization and was on the board for years, traveling to meetings around the country and attending the conventions.

In addition to her husband, two daughters, Sally King Witt and Lisa King Berendsohn; two grandchildren, Rachel and Joseph; and her brother Harold Bochino, a longtime Newtown resident now living in Florida, survive Mrs King. Her sister, Sally, predeceased her.

Joan and Bob King lived with Sally and her husband Bruce, and the grandchildren, in a custom home that the Kings designed and built together in Yardley, Penn. They all worked together in a family real estate company.

Mrs King is remembered by friends and family as a loving, smart, and dedicated woman, as well as generous and hardworking. She was proud of her Italian heritage and her family.

Always smart and creative, Mrs King owned a florist shop during the years that the family lived in Wisconsin, and then a custom jewelry business in Pennsylvania.

A private memorial service will take place at the family’s convenience.

Memorial donations may be made to Heartland Hospice Memorial Fund, helping families that cannot afford to have a funeral or services for their loved one, at 333 North Summit Street, PO Box 10086, Toledo OH 43699-0086 or at http://heartlandhospicefund.org/; or to Happy Tails Rescue through the petfinder page, http://awos.petfinder.com/shelters/htrpa.html.