Garland- Joan Ann O’Connor, went to rest in the arms of the Lord on Wednesday, April 24th, 2024, at the age of 91. She passed at Northern Light Mayo Hospital after a long and full life. Her family would like to extend sincere thanks and gratitude to Mayo’s staff during Joan’s stay in the ER as well as when receiving Comfort Care; their compassion and communication were exceptional. Joan was born on June 28th, 1932, in Hartford, Connecticut, to John and Marion Wynn. After graduating high school, Joan worked as a typist before marrying Vaughn O’Connor in 1952. Joan and Vaughn moved to Maine after their third child was born, and eventually settled in Garland. One of Joan’s most fervent hopes was to have a large, close family, and she definitely succeeded. Joan was the loving mother of six children, grandmother of 17, great-grandmother of 23, and great-great-grandmother of one. She loved hosting large family gatherings and was the glue that held her family together. As a wife and mother, Joan quickly honed superb cooking and gardening skills in order to help support her family. She continued to maintain both vegetable and flower gardens well after her children had children of their own. Her weekly Saturday baking sessions would leave her home smelling scrumptious, and her cookies were the stuff of legends. Joan was a devout Catholic for her entire life. She attended St. Anne in Dexter for many years with one of her daughters and family. Joan was an avid reader and would lend or gift books to her family often. She enjoyed watching her “stories” (soap operas) and mystery TV shows, and keeping her mind sharp with crossword puzzles and jigsaw puzzles, which were constantly in progress. Joan loved watching birds gather at her window feeder, and she was always amused when a cheeky chipmunk she named Chippy would make an appearance. Staying active was a must for Joan. If she wasn’t cooking or gardening, she could be found walking the trails or riding her bike. She even went rollerskating with a granddaughter at age 65, all smiles. What’s more, Joan loved to travel, and vacationed from California to Canada. She enjoyed fairs and amusement parks and was often her grandchildren’s ride buddy. She was fearless on the big rides, with roller coasters being her favorite. She took everything life gave her in stride and will be missed beyond measure. Joan is survived by her six children, Pearl Wintle and her husband Alan, Vaughn O’Connor and his wife Joy, Carol Robinson and her husband Dave, Paul O’Connor, Colleen Carlton and her husband John, and Stella MacDonald and her husband Dale; along with 17 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild. Joan was preceded in death by her husband Vaughn; stillborn son, Patrick; half-sister, Catherine Knott; brother, John Wynn; and half-brother, Nelson Spencer. A prayer service will be held 10am Saturday, June 8, 2024, at St. Anne Catholic Church in Dexter. A reception will follow at United Methodist Church in Dover-Foxcroft. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Anne Catholic Church 64 Free St. Dexter, ME 04930. Arrangements are in the care of the Lary Funeral Home. Messages of condolence and memories may be left at www.laryfuneralhome.com .