Obituary of Joyce Skirkanich

CHESHIRE Mrs. Joyce M. Skirkanich, 57, beloved wife of 35 years to Nicholas J. Skirkanich, passed away peacefully on Tuesday afternoon, March 4, 2008 at St. Marys Hospital in Waterbury. She was born February 11, 1951 in Bridgeport and was the daughter of Herman, who predeceased her, and Agnes Schweickert, both formerly of Devon. Joyce attended St. Anns Parochial School in Devon and later graduated from Jonathan Law High School in Milford in 1969. She attended Southern Connecticut State University as a French Education student for two years. She was a talented painter, artist and quilter. She enjoyed watching her son play baseball in high school and college, and traveled everywhere from Massachusetts to Florida to do so. She enjoyed reading her daughters newspaper articles in the Connecticut Post and the Waterbury Republican-American. Mrs. Skirkanich lovingly attended to her mother, who lives in a Milford nursing home. She thoroughly enjoyed birding whether it was spotting bald eagles on her and her husbands annual anniversary trip to New Hampshire, or watching the blue jays and cardinals in her own back yard. She also loved trips to Mohegan Sun, trips out west and exploring new places. Besides being survived by her husband and her mother, she is also survived by her daughter, Kristen Skirkanich-Cassidy and son-in-law Sean Cassidy, both formerly of Cheshire, currently of Vermont, and her son, Nicholas, formerly of Cheshire, and daughter-in-law Laura, both currently of New Fairfield. Her sisters, Diane Christianson of Florida and Mary Knowlton of Michigan, also survive her. She also has many nieces, nephews, cousins, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law and other close family members and a wonderful group of friends who will miss her dearly.Arrangements A Funeral Mass will be held at St. Bridgets Church, 175 Main Street in Cheshire on Saturday, March 8, 2008 at 10 a.m. Friends are asked to meet directly at church. Burial will be held at the convenience of the family. Calling hours will be held at Slater Funeral Home, 242 South Main Street in Cheshire on Friday, March 7, 2008 from 3 8 p.m.