Joan Eileen (Waters) Keating

Joan Eileen (Waters) Keating, 91, beloved matriarch of the Sweeney clan, died peacefully surrounded by loved ones on March 30, in New Milford, CT. She will be remembered for her warm, easy-going demeanor, and as a beautiful and remarkably resilient woman who had a profound love for her family.

Born May 23, 1931, in the Fordham section of the Bronx, NY, her mother passed away when Joan was 5. Her father later remarried, and the family relocated to Yonkers, NY.  At 10 years old, Joan contracted polio and was bedridden for almost a year.  With hard work and determination, she was able to walk at her graduation from St. Denis Elementary School and went on to graduate from Blessed Sacrament Academy in Yonkers in 1949.

With limited funds available for college, Joan accepted a job as a proofreader, offered to her by her neighbor.  Joan was very bright, an avid reader, had an extensive vocabulary and was a meticulous speller so she excelled at it.  She took classes at Hunter College in the evenings.

In 1957 she married Michael J. Sweeney.  Shortly thereafter they moved to West Orange, NJ and in 1965 settled in Westfield, NJ where they would raise their five children. Following a divorce in 1982, Joan moved to Highland Park, NJ, and began working at Rutgers University and became active in the town council and other civic pursuits. In 1984, at the age of 53, Joan proudly graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Rutgers.  She also received the Dean’s Award for Excellence in English while her children cheered loudly from the audience.

In 1989, Joan married Francis J. “Frank” Keating and was delighted to add two stepsons to her brood.  Upon Joan’s retirement from Rutgers, they moved to Boulder (and eventually Longmont) Colorado. She stayed active delivering library books to Seniors, was a member of the League of Women Voters and happily volunteered at the polls on election day for as long as she was able. In addition to reading, Joan enjoyed doing the New York Times and Irish Times crossword puzzles which she would confidently do in pen.

By 2012, Joan had lost her sight from Macular Degeneration and as health issues mounted, she moved to The Orchards in Southington, CT to be closer to her daughters.  Four years later she left the Orchards and spent a few years in the care of her daughter, Cathy and son-in-law, Jeff at their home in Washington Depot, CT.  Ultimately, she made her home at Candlewood Valley Health & Rehabilitation Center in New Milford, CT.

Left to mourn her passing are her daughters, Catharine Sweeney (Jeffrey McGill), Ellen Bridgman (William), her sons, Michael J. Sweeney, Jr. (Sherryl),  Matthey Sweeney (Rose), James Sweeney (Kerry Mellor), her stepsons, Paul Keating (Janet), and Joseph Keating (Kimberly), her brother Joseph Waters (Elizabeth), her sisters, Sheila Waters and Nancy Waters, her grandchildren, Heather Sieracki (Eric), Kelly Bridgman (fiancé Anthony Poske), Lisa Bridgman, Steven Bridgman, Francis “Frank” Sweeney, Christopher Sweeney, Elizabeth “Beth” Piccolella (David), Samuel Sweeney, Lucas Sweeney, Finnian Sweeney, Justin Keating (Ashley), Connor Keating (fiancé Nicole Corcoran), John “Jack” Keating, Cameron Keating, Daniel Keating, a great granddaughter Sloane Sieracki and many cousins, nieces and nephews whom she loved dearly.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Joseph H. and Marion (Kane) Waters, her stepmother Dorothy (Cutley) Waters, brother Edward Waters and her former husbands.

A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, May 13, 2023, at 11:00 AM at The First Congregational Church of Washington, CT, 6 Kirby Road, Washington, CT 06793. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to International Rescue Committee, P.O. Box 6068, Albert Lea, MN  56007-9847 or online at www.rescue.org . The IRC is a tax-deductible charity which helps displaced families recover and rebuild their lives after surviving the world’s worst crises. Condolences may bee expressed at Colonialfunerals.com.