Elizabeth Joan Winter (Joan), 91, of Freedom Drive, Montpelier, died
at Mayo Nursing Home on Saturday, July 31, 2010. Joan was born in 1919
in New York City, daughter of J. Thornton MacDonald Jr. and Mae Edna
O'Neil MacDonald.
She lived her early life in Greenwich, CT, and New York City where she
married Lieutenant JG Proctor Winter, USCG during WWII. When Proctor
returned from the service, they moved to Port Washington and then Roslyn
Estates, NY, where she lived until his death in 1973. Joan followed her
daughter Judy to Vermont the same year, living first in Middlesex
Village and then in Montpelier.
Joan had a great sense of humor and always dressed like a lady. Her
demeanor could fool people into believing she was a stuffed shirt, but
just get her laughing and you'd know who you were dealing with. She
worked at Kids' Clothes in Waitsfield in the 1970s and early 1980s, then
retired.
In Montpelier, she was a regular on State and Main Streets befriending
shopkeepers and having coffee and a sweet with friends. Joan had a way
of collecting friends from all walks of life though she never cared to
participate in clubs or organizations. Many felt she was their best
friend.
She was schooled at Eden Hall, PA, Convent of the Sacred Heart 91st
Street, NYC, Manhattanville College and Parson's School of Design where
she studied dressmaking. Known for her beautiful handwriting and her
long, long newsy letters (a lost art) as far as she was concerned there
was always a reason to write a personal note.
Joan is survived by three daughters, Judith (Mrs. John) Phelon,
Elizabeth (Mrs. Gregory) McCarthy and Ann Winter; her brother Douglas E.
MacDonald and his wife Marybeth; two sons-in-law, John Phelon and
Gregory McCarthy; four grandchildren, Christopher Fabiano, Matthew
Fabiano, Jonathan McCarthy and Christine McCarthy; and three
great-grandchildren, Matthew and Addison McCarthy and Andrea Bais. She
was predeceased by her husband Proctor Winter, her brother John T.
MacDonald and her grandson Proctor Phelon.
Calling hours were held Monday evening, August 2, from 6 to 8 p.m. at
Guare & Sons Funeral Home, 30 School Street, Montpelier. A Funeral
Mass was celebrated at 11 a.m., Tuesday, August 3, at St. Augustine
Catholic Church, 16 Barre Street, Montpelier. Burial will be private at
Warren Village Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to Central Vermont Home Health & Hospice, Inc., 600 Grange Road, Barre, VT 05641.
Those wishing to send online condolences may do so at www.guareandsons.com and go to Joan's obituary.
