Obituary of Joan N. Poole

Belchertown - Joan N. (Pickering) Poole, 96, passed away June 5, 2022, at Baystate Wing Hospital. She was born on July 15, 1925, in Amherst, MA. She was raised in Amherst and has lived in Belchertown for over 70 years. She retired from UMASS in Amherst as a telephone operator, where she worked for over 40 years. Joan was a member of the Hope United Methodist Church, a past matron of Mount Vernon Order of Eastern Start #97, and past Noble Grand Orient of the former Rebekka Lodge. She was also a Cub Scout den mother and a brownie leader during her children's youth. In her leisure, Joan enjoyed bowling, volunteering for the Belchertown Senior Center travel club, and working at the Belchertown ballot boxes.  She was predeceased in death by her husband, Homer "Jack" Poole in 2012.  Joan is survived by her children, Dorothy (Poole) Burns of Westerly, RI, Heidi (Poole) Johnson of Marston Mills, MA, Kenneth A. Poole of Belchertown, and stepson Douglas Poole of Liverpool NY.  Joan also leaves 7 grandchildren, Jillian (Burns) Daly, Autumn (Burns) Bartlett, Odelia (Burns) Deangelis, Erik Nicholoplus, Robert Nicholoplus, Elizabeth Johnson, Kenny (Poole) Brouillette and 5 great grandchildren.  Besides her parents and husband, she was predeceased by her sister, Mary E. Roberts of New Milford, CT and brother, Arthur B. Pickering of Amherst, Charles Newkirk of East Long Meadow, and her granddaughter, Raquel Poole.
   Services will be held at Beers and Story Belchertown Funeral Home on Sat., July 16, 2022, calling hours will be held from 10:00am-12:00pm followed by a Memorial service at 12:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to either the Belchertown Senior Center or Hope United Methodist Church Choir.