Joan M. Peterson

Joan grew up on Clear Lake in North Branford, graduating North Branford High School in 1967. She was debate team captain at NBHS, and was cast in many school plays. Joan then graduated from the Stone School of Business and began administrative work with Hepler & Gibney of New Haven. She also worked in admissions at Yale University before later moving to Dallas and then Atlanta, working for Frito Lay, and for Norfolk Southern Railway.

Joan was an avid cook and loved having dinner parties. Her annual New Year’s Eve parties on Clear Lake were legendary. She catered professionally in Newport, Rhode Island in the early 1980’s, in addition to working on a documentary for the Newport tourism board. Her passion for fine food lives on in her daughter and eldest granddaughter’s culinary careers, as will her legacy of bringing friends and family together around wonderful food and music.

Predeceased by her parents, Henry Stephen Miller and Elizabeth (Marzy) Fowler Miller of Guilford, Joan is survived by her brother, John H. Miller and his wife, Heidi Ahlstrom-Miller; her daughter, Mia Elizabeth Park and her husband Bryn Sterling Park; and her grandchildren, Ava Murray Park, Nicoli Joan Park, and Brynna Miller Park.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations may be made to the North Guilford Congregational Church, 159 Ledge Hill Rd, Guilford, CT., 06437.

Private memorials for Joan are being held both in Lilburn, Georgia, and Northford, Connecticut.