Joan deVillafane

WHITEFIELD - Joan Colburn deVillafane, 84, of Partridge Lane, died at The Morrison in Whitefield, on Tuesday morning, November 29, 2016. Mrs. deVillafane was born in Brattleboro, VT on September 19, 1932, the daughter of Frank V. and Minnie L. (Brown) Colburn. She was a 1950 graduate of Brattleboro High School and a 1953 graduate of Mary Hitchcock School of Nursing. On January 16, 1954 she married Jorge Alberto deVillafane MD. In 1956 they moved to Whitefield, NH where Jorge established his medical practice. While raising her family Joan was an active volunteer with many community services and organizations such as the Whitefield Women's Study Club, immunization clinics for children and adults, pre-school vision and hearing screening clinics, Community Baptist Church Ladies Circle, Hospice volunteer, she taught Sunday School and was a member of the Coos County Medical Auxiliary. Joan was an active member of St. Paul's Church in Lancaster and served on the Church Search Committee. In 1971 she started a 23 year career as school nurse in the White Mountains Regional School District. She found this long career most fulfilling and organized the Coos County School Nurse Association. Having served in many other capacities she was a member and past president of the NH School Nurses Association, a Legislative Chairperson, and a NH delegate to the National Association of School Nurses. In 1994 Joan was the first school nurse in the State of NH to receive the Excellence in Education Award. That same year she was also awarded NH School Nurse of the Year. She was an active member of the Delta Kappa Gamma Society and serving several offices including past vice-president of the professional Affairs Committee. In 1984 Joan completed the Bachelor of General Studies with an area of specialization in Health Education from the University System of NH, School of Lifelong Learning. Joan was a devoted wife and mother who loved home and family and doing things with husband, children and grandchildren. Her interests and hobbies included winter sports such as skiing and snowmobiling and during the spring, summer, and fall spending time at the lake. She enjoyed sewing, knitting, tailoring, quilting, a daily walk and quiet time to read. She considered herself a lifelong student. She was known as "Mrs. D" to all her students, their children and some of their grandchildren. Jorge predeceased her in 2004, she was his primary caregiver as he suffered a "long goodbye" with Alzheimer's Disease. Surviving family members include three children, Charles Scott deVillafane and his wife Ann of Gardner, MA, Brenda Marie Harwood of West Brattleboro, VT, Theresa Ann deVillafane-Moll of Lunenburg, VT; a brother Bernard "Bernie" Colburn and wife Jeannette of Brattleboro; 5 grandchildren, Zac and his wife Amanda, Benjamin, Lisa, Nicholas, Kyle, Gabe; and 3 great-grandsons. She was also predeceased by a son Jorge A. deVillafane Jr. in 1979. Visiting hours will be held Saturday afternoon, December 3rd, from 3:00 to 5:00 PM at the Bailey Funeral Home, 210 Main Street, Lancaster, NH. A funeral service will be held Sunday afternoon at 1:00 PM at St. Paul's Church, 113 Main Street, Lancaster, NH. Reverend Timothy Brooks, pastor, will officiate. Donations may be made in her memory to the Alzheimer's Association NH Chapter, 166 South River Road, Suite 210, Bedford, NH 03110 or the Caleb Interfaith Volunteer Caregivers, 38 King's Square, Whitefield, NH 03598 or The Morrison or Sartwell Place, 6 Terrace Street, Whitefield, NH 03598.

Joan deVillafane

September 19, 1932 - November 29, 2016