Joan Dyer (nee Kilmartin) passed away peacefully on April 25, 2023 in Danbury, Conn.

She was born on March 9, 1942 in Brooklyn, N.Y. to Edmund and Kathleen (nee McCafferty) Kilmartin. She is survived by her sister, Kathleen Kilmartin of Ridgefield and brother, Timothy Kilmartin and his wife Jamie of Fairfield.

Joan was a Catholic and took strength from her strong faith. She grew up in Danbury, attended St Peter’s School and was married in St Peter’s church. She and her husband Robert moved to Newtown in 1974 and joined the St Rose of Lima Parish. They were dedicated volunteers at the St Rose FAITH food pantry and participated every Tuesday in the prayer vigils at St Marguerites in Brookfield. She participated in many school events at St Rose School and Immaculate High School, supporting the spiritual and educational lives of her six children, and was always recognizable by her short blond bob and her bright red jackets, her favorite color.

She is survived by her beloved husband of nearly 59 years, Robert Dyer of Newtown. She is also survived by their six children whom she loved fiercely, Edmund Dyer and his wife Eileen of Smithtown, N.Y., Mary Dyer of Woodbury, Michael Dyer of Franklin, Tenn., Patrick Dyer and his wife Karime of Newtown, Thomas Dyer of Galway, Ireland, and Elizabeth Dyer and her husband Saeed Ahghari of South Windsor. She was happiest in her role of grandma, and is survived by her eight grandchildren that she doted on while she was still able to, Jack, Maddie Grace, and Anne Claire of Tennessee, Joseph of Smithtown, N.Y., Anna Joan of Galway, Ireland and James, Isabelle, and Celina of Newtown.

Joan was very proud of her Irish heritage and carried on her father’s tradition of storytelling, passing on stories of her beloved pets, her childhood, her family’s history and favorite memories of her own children growing up. Her struggle with Alzheimer’s disease robbed her of these stories, but they will live on in her family’s happy memories of this kind and sweet-natured woman and her warm smile.

Joan spent the end of her life being cared for with love and kindness at Filosa Nursing Home. Our family will be forever grateful for the grace and comfort the social workers, nurses, and CNAs provided her for the last eleven years of her life.

The family will receive friends at Honan Funeral Home, 58 Main Street, Newtown Conn. on Sunday between the hours of 1 and 4 pm. Funeral Services will be held at St Rose Church, 46 Church Hill Rd., Newtown, at 10:30 am on Monday, May 1.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in her memory to FAITH Food Pantry of Newtown, Inc.

The Newtown Bee April 28, 2023