WATERVILLE- Joan Marie Ann Veilleux, age 91, peacefully passed to her heavenly home on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, at her residence at St. Francis Apartments in Waterville, with her children by her side.

Joan's wish was to leave this world in the same place she created her faith life as a Catholic. She was Baptized, made her First Holy Communion and Confirmation as a child and received the sacrament of Matrimony with her husband, Richard, in St. Francis de Sales Church, which after its closure became home to St. Francis Apartments in Waterville. The week before her death, she received the Sacrament of the Sick and Dying.

Joan was born in Waterville on July 26, 1935, the daughter of Emile and Annie (Martin) Ouellette. She attended Mt. Merici Academy in Waterville and graduated in 1954.

She worked in various retail businesses in the Waterville area, including Cottle's and Country Kitchen Thrift Store.

Christmas, holidays and family were the things that she loved the most, along with baking and gifting. She enjoyed her few trips to Las Vegas with her husband for anniversary celebrations.

As Joan and Dick lived in Winslow through their married lives, St. John the Baptist Catholic Church was blessed with her gift of volunteering as an usher and as a Eucharistic Minister for daily and weekly Masses. She became a fixture as a volunteer yearly for the St. John School Christmas Fair selling raffle tickets.

Joan was predeceased by her husband Richard "Dick" Veilleux, parents Emile and Annie Ouellette, son Carl Veilleux, great-granddaughter Emma Veilleux, sister Jeannine Schellenberg, brother and sister-in-law Jerome and Mary Alvina Guerrette, and sister-in-law Cleo Poulin.

She is survived by her daughter Michelle (Dana) Carey, son Richard (Marge) Veilleux and daughter-in-law Sharon Veilleux, grandchildren Kim (Jay) Swihart, Matthew Veilleux, Chris Carey and Sara Veilleux (partner Jade Devitt) and Sydney Veilleux. Several great-grandchildren, who loved their "Memere Jo", are Nolan, Olivia, Evan and Ben Veilleux and Carlie and Calvin Swihart. Joan leaves behind several nieces and nephews and her life-long friends Colette and Noella, among others.

The funeral Mass will be held at Notre Dame de Secours Church on 116 Silver Street in Waterville, Thursday, September 24, 2026 at 10 a.m. with burial to follow at St. Francis Cemetery on Grove Street in Waterville. A reception will follow at Notre Dame Church Hall.

The family would like to thank her hospice workers, especially Molly, Michelle, and Sherry, Fr. Patrick and her friends at St. Francis Apartments for their gentle care of Joan.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Winslow Community Cupboard, Lithgow Street, Winslow, ME 04901

Joan's funeral will be live streamed at corpuschristimaine.org