Joan G. Pierpont, 91, of Southbury, died May 15 at St. Mary's Hospital in Waterbury. She was the wife of the late Norman Pierpont.

Joan was born December 3, 1934, to Ethel (Alaby) Greene and Lester Wilton Greene. She was raised in Brookfield, graduated from Danbury High School in 1952 and Danbury State Teachers College in 1956, and earned a Master's Degree in Education from Western Connecticut State College.

As a teenager, she took a job as the arts and crafts counselor at the 4-H camp in Warren, where she met the camp lifeguard and love of her life, Norman Pierpont.

They married after college, and Norm served as an officer in the U.S. Navy. They moved around the country several times but always returned to Brookfield, where Joan had grown up. They enjoyed nearly 55 happy years together, raising three children and welcoming four grandchildren before Norm's death in 2011. Joan went on to welcome four great-grandchildren, and her family was her proudest achievement.

Joan taught elementary school for many years in the Brookfield school system, but her entrepreneurial spirit led her into ventures as a realtor, owner of a mail-order company, landlord, jewelry sales distributor, and developer — building new construction as well as renovating homes and apartments in Connecticut and Florida. She and Norm were a great team and did much of the renovation work themselves.

Joan is survived by her children: Donna Pierpont of Southbury; Rick Pierpont and daughter-in-law Dr. Leigh Rohde of South Hampton, NH; and Carol Papp and son-in-law David Papp of Oxford. She was predeceased by her parents, her husband, and her brother, Richard L. Greene.

She cherished her family, had a lifelong interest in family history and genealogy, and kept dancing well into her 80s.

She never lost her sunny disposition and was quick with a kind word that put everyone at ease. She leaves a legacy of love, kindness, generosity, and the memory of her warm smile.

A private graveside ceremony for family will be held at Laurel Hill Cemetery in Brookfield.

Please consider making a donation in Joan’s memory to the historic nonprofit Laurel Hill Cemetery Association, P.O. Box 821, Brookfield, CT 06804; the Alzheimer's Association at Alzheimer's Association ; or a charity of your choice.

Munson Lovetere Funeral Home assisted with the arrangements. To leave an online condolence for the family please visit www.munsonloveterefuneralhome.com