Joan A. Hamilton, 90

ADAMS, Mass. —

The family of Joan Ann Hamilton of Adams are saddened to announce her passing on October 15th, 2022 at the age of 90 after a brief illness and a long battle with Parkinson’s disease. In her final days, she was cared for by hospice, receiving visits from family and friends. She died at peace with her son at her side.

Born January 29th, 1932, in North Adams, Massachusetts, Joan was the daughter of Anna May (Geiger) Hamilton and Joseph Patrick Hamilton formerly of Rockland County, NY. A life-long resident of Adams, Joan was a devoted parishioner of The Parish of Saint Pope John Paul II and the former Saint Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, where she taught catechism to many generations of 4th grade girls. Joan also faithfully participated in the continuous prayer vigil in the Adoration Chapel of Saint Stanislaus for several years. A 1950 graduate of Adams High School, Joan’s early promise in the arts led her to study jewelry-smithing at the Boston Museum School of Fine Arts. After completing her education, she brought her portfolio to many of the leading jewelers of New York and Philadelphia, and later found work as a jewelry designer and stone setter in Providence, RI, and subsequently Boston and Chatham, MA. She frequently recounted with fondness her time working on Cape Cod, both as a jeweler, and occasionally as a waitress at Pates’ Restaurant. It was on the Cape during the summer of ’55, while vacationing with her sister Mary Francis’s young family, that May as her sister was known contracted Bulbar Polio. This devastating event brought Joan back to her home in Adams to care for her sister and to help out with her sister’s family and her own father, Joe.

During the early 1960’s, Joan put her background in jewelry-making to work translating her skills to naval ordnance assembly at General Electric. Joan later moved on to the technical art department at G.E. Her work was considered secret, but she proudly contributed to the Polaris defense systems, the Trident Submarine, and the Bradley Vehicle. In her later years, G.E. trained Joan in the new Computer Aided Design technology, moving her skills from the drawing board and onto the computer. But she still retained her artistic talents and was called upon to create a landscape watercolor as a retirement gift for a senior executive at G.E. – an honor of which she was extremely proud. She chose a favorite setting, the Leahey farm in Lee Massachusetts, owned by long-time family friends. Her relationship with G.E. lasted the greater part of her life until her retirement in 1993, and it also led to her most enduring personal relationships. It was here that Joan met the love of her life, Fred Rabe, who was tragically lost to her far too early, and with whom she shared her son, Martin.

Joan was an unconventional woman who was ahead of her times. Fiercely independent – by nature and by necessity – she was a strong proponent of equal rights and equal opportunity for women. While temporarily living in Manhattan Beach, California, she adopted the new fashion trend of Capri pants. When she returned to work at G.E. sporting a pair, management wanted to send her home to put on a skirt. Standing her ground, she let them know that the factory floor was cold and that she would not be putting on a skirt. She continued to wear pants and continued to share this favorite story frequently.

Joan was never far from her artistic pursuits throughout her lifetime, whether creating dried floral wreathes for family, friends and the church bazaar; painting watercolors of Berkshire landscapes; or working in her garden. Even her last days were spent with her coloring books, which she referred to as "her work."

Joan’s incredible strength, sharp wit, and sense of humor, her gardening skills, and love of picnics and drives on country roads where the sole purpose was to get lost to discover something beautiful will sadly be missed by her family. As a single mom, Joan passed on her strong faith in her religion, artistic talent, independent spirit, and passion for voting (straight Democrat of course), to her son Martin Hamilton of New York City and Adams. She was also a devoted aunt to her beloved niece, Gloria (Corsi) Kennedy of North Adams and her husband, Brian. Additionally, she leaves behind great niece Tammy Pellerin and her daughter Taunie Arnold, both of North Adams; her great nephew Bill Pellerin Jr., his wife Val, and their son Will, of Adams; and her great-nephew John Pellerin, his partner Tara Condron and their son Noah, of Adams. Joan also leaves behind the family of her predeceased nephew Anthony Martin Corsi of North Adams, including his wife Linda (Pierce) Corsi and their children Andrew Martin Corsi and Laura Beth Corsi of North Adams. Also predeceased are Joan’s sister, Mary Francis (Hamilton) Corsi, bother, Martin Hamilton, and baby sister, Gloria Hamilton, who died in infancy, It’s with great happiness that Joan will finally be reunited with her great love, Fred, who was never far from her heart, especially during her last days.

Joan’s family would like to thank the caregivers of Mountain View Home Care who became friends over the years especially Marie Evans and Janice Tassone.

The funeral will be held on Friday, Oct. 21st at 9:00 AM from the PACIOREK FUNERAL HOME, 13 Hoosac St. Adams, followed by a Liturgy of Christian Burial at 10:00 AM in Notre Dame des Sept Douleurs Church, Adams. Burial will follow in Bellevue Cemetery, Adams. Calling hours are Thursday from 5 to 7 PM at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests support of the local arts in Joan’s memory through donations to the Adams Theater Revitalization project – a mission that would have been close to Joan’s heart, as she worked behind the theatre’s candy counter while in high school. Please use this web link to make a tax deductible general support donation and select the memorial or special occasion gift option and mention Joan. Thank you. https://fundraising.fracturedatlas.org/adams-theater/general_support

To leave a message of condolence, or for directions, please go online to www.paciorekfuneral.com