Obituary: Joan Barto

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Joan Barto
Joan Barto

Kathryn “Joan” Ryan Barto, 84, a lifelong Greenwich resident, passed away peacefully on Feb. 5 at Martin Medical Center in Stuart, Fla., surrounded by family, after a brave fight with cancer.

Joan was born in Greenwich on Sept. 27, 1931 to the late Ann and Ed Ryan. Growing up in town, she enjoyed spending time at Island Beach and Byram Shore.

Joan graduated from Sacred Heart Academy in Stamford and worked for the New York Telephone Co. before marrying the love of her life, Edward O. Barto, in 1950. Together they raised five children and had a very active social life, with many lifelong friends and a large extended family who were of utmost importance to them, and whom Joan made sure stayed connected with one another.

She enjoyed traveling to visit her extended family, and danced her heart out with Ed at every opportunity. She was on the steering committee for learning disabilities in the Greenwich Public School System (GAPS). She was a volunteer for the Greenwich Help Line and taught quilting at the Greenwich Senior Center for over 20 years.

Joan enjoyed painting and sewing, and was an active member of her church, where she was involved in Marriage Encounter and Pre-Cana. She was an avid reader, loved quilting and dancing, and had unwavering faith. She was kind and gentle, with a strong will and a great sense of humor. She was a warm, welcoming person who always listened without judgment, seeing the best in everyone she met and encouraging them to be their best.

In addition to her devoted husband, Ed, Joan will be missed by her siblings, Nora Gentry, Ed (Joyce) Ryan, Eileen (Skip) Lambertson, and John (Sandra) Ryan; sons E. Michael, David and Stephen (Meredith Braxton) Barto; and her daughters, Kathy Barto and Judy (Steve) Yung.

Joan also leaves 16 grandchildren: M. Scott (Rana) Bortot, Vince (Jess) Barto, Damian (Donna) DeCarlo, Melissa Massey, Brett, D. Matthew (Emily), Derek (Danielle) and Ian Barto, A.J., Michael and Kaitlyn Braccio, Trevor, Acadia and Evan Braxton Barto, and Lauren and Curtis Yung, in addition to 13 great-grandchildren and many nieces, nephews and cousins, who were blessed with her love and relentless belief in them.

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