September 29, 1925 – November 17, 2024
Joan Rouleau
Joan Rouleau, beloved mother, grandmother, and friend, passed away peacefully on November 17, 2024, at the age of 99 in Princeton, New Jersey. Born in Boston, Massachusetts, she lived a full and vibrant life, marked by intellectual curiosity, boundless creativity, and deep devotion to her family and friends.
Joan grew up in Scituate, MA and was a graduate of Smith College, where she earned an undergraduate degree in history. She went on to earn a master’s degree from Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education. Throughout her life, she maintained an unwavering commitment to education and the arts, nurturing both her own intellectual pursuits and the minds of those around her. Joan was a lover of music and the arts, and enjoyed summer travels to Tanglewood, Caramoor, and Nantucket.
Joan worked for many non-profits throughout her life. She also worked in Library Science for many years and retired from the New Canaan Library at the age of 91. Her colleagues remembered her spirited personality with great fondness.
An accomplished painter, Joan studied at the Silvermine Guild of Artists and The Art Students League in New York City. She found joy in expressing herself through art. Whether working with oils or pastels, her love for painting brought beauty into her life and the lives of her loved ones. Her works were often inspired by nature and the people she cherished. Her creativity continued to bloom well into her later years.
Joan was predeceased by her brothers, Louis and Robert Rouleau, and her sister, Patricia Mahoney. She is survived by her five children with her former husband, Lewis R. Scanlan: Ellen Scanlan (Princeton, NJ), Lewis Scanlan (Westport, CT), Christopher Scanlan (Honolulu, HI), Jane Chapman (Princeton, NJ), and Peter Scanlan (Belmont, MA); six grandchildren: Kathryn, Maxwell, Jasmine, Alexander, Abigail, and Caroline, as well as many nieces and nephews. She was a devoted mother and grandmother who will be cherished for her legacy of love and warmth. Joan’s memory will live on in the hearts of all who knew her and her influence will continue to be felt for many years to come.
A private memorial service celebrating her life and work will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made to a charity of their choice.
Arrangements were made under the direction of The Mather-Hodge Funeral Home in Princeton, NJ.