JoAnn Hughes Brennan

JoAnn Hughes Brennan passed away on Monday, December 20, 2021 at home with her family at her side.

JoAnn was born on August 14, 1957 in Rochester, NH. Over her life she lived in many more places – Connecticut, Wisconsin, Illinois, Switzerland, and North Carolina. She left each place having explored them to the fullest, with wonderful memories, and life-long friends.

No matter where JoAnn lived, she always spent her summers at Mousam Lake in Maine. She grew up loving the lake, passed that love to her husband, children, and her grandchildren. She’d spend her days kayaking, pulling water skiers and tubers behind the boat, and taking beautiful photos of sunrises and sunsets that she posted on Facebook. It was her favorite place.

JoAnn spent her life taking care of others – her daughters, grandchildren, and most recently, her mother. She spent years working as a pediatric physical therapist, where she kept in touch with many of her patients and their families for years after discharge. She loved to cook for others, from fudge to her blueberry muffins, and, of course, her grandchildren’s favorite whoopie pies. JoAnn’s annual batches of strawberry, blueberry, and peach jams were distributed around the world. She never missed sending a birthday or anniversary card, and her Christmas cards took weeks to assemble and send out.

JoAnn is survived by Thomas, her husband, Doris Hughes, her mother, Kathleen Raffio, her sister, Anna Brennan-Curry (Robert) and Brigette Chaput (Mark), her daughters, Daniel, Margaret, Benjamin, and Alice, her grandchildren. She also leaves behind many beloved brothers and sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, and former patients.

The wake will be held on Tuesday, December 28 from 2 – 5 pm at Rogers-Pickard Funeral Home, and her funeral service will take place on Wednesday, December 29 at 11 am at St. Stephen Catholic Church, both in Sanford, NC. A memorial and burial service will take place in Rochester, NH in 2022.

In lieu of flowers, JoAnn’s family asks that you make a donation to the Stevens Center (Stevens-center.org) or the Reach Out Pregnancy Center, both in Sanford, NC in her memory.