She was born on April 21, 1930 in Hartford, CT to Kazu & Ko (Ito) Mayeda. Her parents came to America from Japan in their early years. They met & married in New York. Soon after, they moved to Hartford, CT, where they opened & operated an oriental gift shop on Church St for over 40 years.
Joan attended Bulkeley High School, where she met her future husband, John F. (Jack) Oliver. After graduating, Jack went into the army & Joan entered the Saint Francis Hospital School of Nursing in Hartford, CT., where she was awarded the Dillon Scholarship Award of Nursing for excellence in nursing. She graduated #1 in her class and was awarded a head nursing position at St. Francis Hospital. In 1953, she married Jack, her high school sweetheart, and proceeded to have 3 children. After the children were all in school, she became a school nurse in the Hartford Board of Education and retired after 23 years of service.
After retiring from the medical profession, and Jack retiring as Chief of Police in Bristol, CT., she & Jack moved to Naples, FL in 1991. She had a desire to enjoy life and music & attended organ classes at the mall. They both routinely exercised at the mall, were members of the Naples Ballroom Dance Club, and had many happy times dancing together.
She was predeceased by her husband Jack (12/9/2019), parents, Kazu & Ko Mayeda, brother, Francis Mayeda, and sister Arleen Mayeda.
She was survived by her sons John, Jr., & James Oliver, daughter Jean Alessandro, as well as her 6 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a memorial contribution be sent to their favorite charity.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.hodgesfhatnaplesmg.com for the Oliver family.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.9.5