Joan Kellogg Renz, 88, of Waterbury, passed away on Monday, February 27, 2023, after a brief illness.

Born in Larchmont, NY on January 27, 1935, Joan was the daughter of the late Frederick and Beatrice Vail Kellogg.  She was predeceased by her brothers Frederick Kellogg, Jr and Peter Kellogg.

She was raised and educated in Larchmont, NY and was a 1957 graduate of Northwestern University.  She earned her PhD in German from the University of Connecticut in 1979. Over the years she worked as a professor of English and German at Naugatuck Valley Community College and at the UConn Waterbury branch.

She loved her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren and greatly enjoyed the times when everyone got together – especially on Easter.  She enjoyed caring for her dogs and cats and loved nature.  Her yard had many bird houses and she enjoyed sitting on her back porch watching the birds in the spring. She was an avid gardener. Roses were her favorite.

She is survived by her daughters, Brenda Zanta (Michael) of West Hartford, CT, Erika DeJesus (John Paley) of Somers, CT, her grandsons Joseph Sebastianelli of West Hartford, CT, and Michael DeJesus (Anastasya Bruschi-DeJesus) of Blackstone, MA, and two great-grandsons.

A celebration of Joan's life will be held on Friday, April 28th, 2023 at 11am at St. John's Lutheran Church 503 Chase Parkway, Waterbury, CT.

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