Joan 'Joni' O'Donnell

Joan C. O’Donnell, 78, of Jaffrey, NH died on October 18, 2021 in Bedford, NH after a period of failing health. ‘Joni’ was born on October 30, 1942, in Long Island, New York.

She had retired after 39 years of teaching and several years of volunteering. Joni advised many students at Con-Val High School in Youth and Government, Students for a Free Tibet, Youth Voter Alliance and Democracy in Practice. She received many awards in education being named the Con-Val Rotary Teacher of the Year, State of NH Social Studies Teacher of the Year, and the Cheshire YMCA Martha Russell Award for working with youth. She was an Associate member of the New Hampshire Sisters of Mercy for many years.

Her volunteer activities included working with the students at the Temple Elementary School, being the greeter at the Union Congregation Monday Night Suppers, serving on the Board of Directors at the Mariposa Museum, being on the Jaffrey Democrats Executive Board, serving as a Eucharistic Minister, Lector, youth group advisor and Confirmation teacher at St. Patrick’s Parish in Jaffrey, NH. Joni also served on the Board of Directors at Forest Park Tenant’s Association and Ocean Haven Condominiums in Wells, Maine. Joni was also a youth group advisor with Ann Lessard at Union Congregation Church and served on the Christian Service Committee.

Joni’s favorite joy in life was being an aunt to several nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews. Her father John, mother Sally, sister Eileen and brother Peter all passed before her. She is survived by her sister-in-law Judith O’Donnell, her nieces and nephews including Dr. Brian O’Donnell, Sean O’Donnell, Michael O’Donnell, Kevin O’Donnell, Gary Stanhope, Erin Stanhope and Kerry Dupuis. Her grandnieces, Shannon Gagne and Ariel Dupuis, were very special to her.

Her many cousins were also a great joy in her life. At the end of Joni’s life, her cousin, Linda Morganstern Beland, closely accompanied her on her journey. Among the many cousins were a very special group, her double cousins, with whom she kept in close contact all her life. They are Judith Jackson, Maureen Farran, Sheila Moran, James O’Donnell, and Danny O’Donnell.

Family and friends are invited to calling hours on Friday, October 29, 2021 from 4:00pm to 6:00pm at the Cournoyer Funeral Home & Cremation Center, 33 River Street, (Rte. 202) Jaffrey, NH 03452.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, October 30, 2021, at 9:00 AM in St. Patrick Church, 89 Main Street Jaffrey. Rev. Wilfred Deschamps, Pastor, will officiate. Burial will take place later at Saint Joseph Cemetery in Manchester.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to either the Union Congregational Church Monday Night Suppers, 33 Concord Street, Peterborough, NH 03458 or to End 68 Hours of Hunger, c/o SAU 1, 106 Hancock Road, Peterborough, NH 03458.