Joan (Mulligan) McGee, 95, of Woodstock, VT passed away peacefully at Mertens House in Woodstock during the early morning hours of June 1, 2023. Born to Wilfred D. Mulligan and Alice (Blackman) Mulligan on March 27, 1928 in Boston, MA, Joan spent her youth living in the city she loved with her police officer father, accountant mother, and younger brother Fred. Upon completion of high school Joan enrolled in the Katharine Gibbs School in Boston, graduating a year later with a secretarial certificate. Her first job was in the hotel industry as one of the first two female hotel sales representatives in the city. A few years later Joan accepted a job with the Rochester and Monroe County Council of the Girl Scouts in Rochester, NY. The following year she moved to New York City to work for the National Girl Scout office as the administrative assistant for the organization's publication, American Girl magazine.

During this time, Joan's mother Alice accepted employment with the Sheraton Corporation as a comptroller. When Alice was transferred to the Sheraton Hotel in New York City, they decided to share an apartment. Several months later, Alice invited one of her employees to enjoy a home-cooked meal with them. The dinner guest was Frederick Allen McGee of Woodstock, VT, a young WWII marine corps veteran and recent graduate of Bentley College. The evening was a success and signaled the beginning of a courtship between the young couple that lasted several years as Allen worked to establish his career with the Sheraton Corporation.

Allen and Joan married on January 28, 1956. Two years later they moved to Taftsville, VT and Allen joined the family business, McGee Fuels, in Woodstock. The couple raised five children in their Taftsville farmhouse until it became clear that a more spacious home was needed. Nine years later the family moved to a larger house on Church Street in Woodstock.

Joan enjoyed many diverse and interesting employment opportunities over the course of her working life. Her first job, after years of being a stay-at-home mom, was as a clothing salesperson at MacHugh's in Woodstock. When the shop closed, she took a position at the Woodstock Inn and Resort as Banquet and Sales Coordinator. After several years, Joan left that position to become a recruitment representative visiting high schools in New Hampshire and Vermont on behalf of the Katharine Gibbs School. When the school decided to halt in-person recruitment efforts, Joan purchased and operated the Clover Gift Shop in Woodstock for several years. She later sold the shop in order to assist her husband in the management of the family business, Woodstock Farm and Garden Center (formerly McGee Fuels).

Upon the sale of the Woodstock Farm and Garden Center, Joan and Allen continued to be active in the community. Joan worked and then volunteered at the Norman Williams Public Library for 18 years. Allen served several terms as Treasurer for the town of Woodstock. Joan was a long-serving Member of the Board of the Homestead, Inc in Woodstock, and she volunteered as an administrative support worker in the office of the Prosthetics Service at the VA Medical Center in White River Junction, VT. Joan was active in the local Swiftwater Girl Scout Council, the St. Anne's Club at Our Lady of the Snows Catholic Church, and the interdenominational Christian organization King's Daughters.

Joan will be remembered as a fiercely independent woman. Above all, she was a loving, supportive wife to her husband and a caring, generous mother to her children. To her friends Joan was loyal and trustworthy beyond compare. She loved to read, do crossword puzzles, take long walks, and scour antique and collectible shops for Cupid and Venus patterned glassware and Ribbon Dolls. Joan enjoyed travelling with her husband and family members, particularly to the beaches of Cape Cod in the early years and the beaches of Maine in the later years. She was devoted to her husband, her family, and her Catholic faith. Joan will be profoundly missed by all who knew and loved her.

Joan is survived by her five children, Nancy (Bryon) Staples of Woodstock, VT, Rick (Kattie) McGee of San Diego, CA, Michael (Jane) McGee of White River Junction, VT, Susan Webb of Oxnard, CA, Theresa (Richard) Pasciuto of Plymouth, MA, and several grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews. Joan was predeceased by Allen, her husband of 49 years, her parents, and her brother Fred.

Per Joan's wishes, there are no calling hours. A funeral mass will be held at Our Lady of the Snows Church in Woodstock on Friday, June 9 at 11:00 a.m. Burial will follow at the Riverside Cemetery in Woodstock.

The family will always be grateful to the staff of Mertens House for the compassionate care Joan received during her stay with them.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Norman Williams Public Library, 10 South Street, Woodstock, VT 05091.

An on-line guestbook can be found at cabotfh.com