Region 16 School Teacher and former Town of Southbury Selectman. a 56-year resident of South Britain, CT Joan O'Shea Sullivan, 93, passed away on November 13, 2024.

Born Johanna O'Shea in Waterbury, CT on Friday, November 13th, 1931, the same day her father won $500.  Joan and her family always considered Friday the 13th a lucky day. Growing up in an Irish speaking family in Waterbury, she graduated from Sacred Heart High School in 1949, from St. Joseph College in W. Hartford in 1953 B.S. Sociology and later earned a M.A. Education from Western Connecticut State University in 1972.  She taught for 20 years at the Long River Middle School in Prospect, CT teaching 6th and 8th grade English. She was President of her local CEA-NEA labor union with Reg. 16 School District for Prospect-Beacon Falls.  After retiring, she also taught at Waterbury Adult Education. Later while Southbury Town Selectman, she negotiated a collective bargaining agreement for the Town of Southbury with their Police Officers.

She was predeceased by her parents John and Johanna O'Shea, her sister in law Bridget O'Shea and is survived by her children, Hugh Sullivan (Diane) of Southbury, CT, Aelish Clifford (John) of Avon, CT, Owen Sullivan of Washington, DC, and Deirdre Sullivan (Ed Harbur) of Southbury, CT, seven grandchildren, Kate Clifford (Matthew Collin), Morgan Clifford Howell (John Howell), JP Clifford (Jessica Gander Clifford), Aelish B. Sullivan, Hugh C. Sullivan, Patrick "Mac" Hart, and Owen Hart, six great grandchildren, brothers John O'Shea (Cynthia) and Maurice O'Shea, cousin Cathy Daversa, several nieces and nephews, and Irish cousins in England, Ireland, Chicago, and Georgia.

Friends are invited to pay their respects on Tuesday November 19, 2024 from 10:00 A.M. to 11:00 A.M in the daily chapel at Sacred Heart Church, 910 Main Street South, Southbury. A funeral mass will begin at 11:00 A.M. Burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the Southbury Food Bank  and mention Joan Sullivan in the Note.

To leave an online condolence please visit www.munsonloveterefuneralhome.com

Southbury Food Bank
P.O. Box 68, Southbury CT 06488
Web: http://southburyfoodbank.org/