Hartland, VT – Joan (Clark) Finley, 81, of Hartland, VT, died on June 22, 2026 after a long, hard fought, battle with Alzheimer’s.
Joan was a die-hard Vermonter. She loved to tell you she lived in four houses on the same road in North Hartland throughout her life. She tolerated a temporary 20-year exile to New Castle, Delaware with her late husband, Ed-but the second he retired, they sped back to Vermont where she belonged.
Joan raised two pretty decent kids, led Girl Scouts, and quilted for Project Linus. For many years, she quietly dropped off thousands of hand-crocheted winter hats at Upper Valley nonprofits like the yarn-wielding ninja she was. She loved to garden and went barefoot whenever she could. Joan loved to bake and her cookies were coveted by the masses. Joan counted down the days to “Willoughby Week” where her extended family spent the last 76 years vacationing together. But the only thing she would want us to mention is that her grandchildren were the warmest and brightest light of her life.
Predeceased by her parents, Ken and Rachel Clark, and husband, Ed, she leaves her brother, Ken Clark; daughter, Joie Finley; son, Michael and his wife Danna Finley; and grandchildren, Michael and his wife Sarah Finley and Kelley Finley.
There will be no funeral or calling hours. Instead, she will rest all the lupines you see along the roadside. If you wish, donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association (www.alz.org), or you can honor her by eating cookies or ice cream for dinner. She’d like that.
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