Joan Devine Nolan

Joan Devine Nolan, born in Erie, Pennsylvania on June 8, 1921, died peacefully of natural causes in Meriden, Connecticut on April 23, 2025, weeks short of her 104th birthday.

She was predeceased by her parents, Grace and Robert Devine; her sister, Mary Grace Devine Marks; two brothers, William and Robert, and in 2011 her cherished husband of 65 years, Thomas F. Nolan, MD.

Joan grew up in Erie, attended Villa Maria Academy and graduated from St. Mary’s College in South Bend, Indiana, receiving a BA in Home Economics.

After graduation from St. Mary’s, she moved to New York City and served as a dietician at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Greenwich Village, where she met the love of her life, Tom Nolan, then a surgical resident at St. Vincent’s. They were married in1946 in San Antonio, Texas, where Tom was serving as a Captain in the U.S. Army Medical Corps. They eventually settled in Erie, where Tom practiced general surgery (interestingly, at another St. Vincent’s Hospital) and Joan ran the household that included five children.

Joan was the consummate homemaker, never happier than when gathering family and friends together. She said she felt very lucky that she could live out her dream! In addition to creating a warm, loving home, she also served as President of the St. Vincent’s Hospital Auxiliary, President of the St. Peter’s Cathedral Women’s Council, and was among the first Eucharistic Ministers of the Diocese of Erie. She was a longtime volunteer with Meals on Wheels, which she enjoyed doing with one of her dear friends.

In retirement, Joan and Tom moved to Madison, Connecticut where they lived for more than 30 years, enjoying everything that New England has to offer. As in Erie, it was their family and friends who defined their lives.

After Tom’s death, Joan lived independently for several years. She then moved to Assisted Living at The Hearth in Glastonbury, Connecticut, where the staff created an atmosphere that she truly enjoyed.

Joan was an independent woman who gracefully adapted to the losses of family members and many friends, and increasing dependency on others. Her last two and a half years were spent at Connecticut Baptist Home in Meriden, Connecticut, where she received extraordinary care from everyone - from the administrators, the nursing staff, the aides, the dining room staff - each member of the team. Joan’s entire family will be forever grateful to them.

Joan treated everyone who cared for her with kindness, good humor and consistent appreciation. An ER doctor once commented as Joan — then 100 years old — spent hours at the hospital awaiting treatment after a fall, “everyone here is in love with your mother!”

In her later years, she lived with no regrets from the past, and few worries for the future - she lived fully in the present moment. She will be remembered as a woman of enthusiastic, eternal optimism and abiding faith. She had a wonderful sense of humor, encouraging practical jokes among her children, and laughing infectiously at each one. One of her last-uttered words of advice to her children was “count your blessings.”

Joan is survived by her five children: Betsy Sandberg (Bill) of Essex, CT.; Tom Nolan (Barrie) of Fairview, PA.; Jodie Nolan (Jon) of Northampton, MA; Bob Nolan (Marianne) of Bryn Mawr, PA; and Kate Clemens (Dave) of Glastonbury, CT. Joan is also survived by her grandchildren: Tyler Sandberg (Dasha); Griffin Sandberg (Tori); Brendan Nolan (Meaghan); Chris Nolan (Johanna); Jesse Nolan (Tony); Emma Nolan-Thomas (Cyrus); Ian Camera (Sam); Liz Nolan; Ian Clemens, Dylan Clemens, and 7 great-grandchildren.

A private memorial service will be held in Erie, Pennsylvania at a future date. In lieu of flowers, a donation may be sent to Meals on Wheels America, P.O. Box 791568, Baltimore, MD 21279, adding the memo “in Memory of Joan Nolan” or using the following link.