Joanne Hupp Umphrey, 92, Died; Mother to Six Staples Graduates, Unitarian Church Member

Joanne Hupp Umphrey, 92, passed away peacefully at her daughter's home in Bloomfield, MI, surrounded by her family. The beloved wife, grandmother and great grandmother will be greatly missed by her second husband Jim Umphrey, her six children, 24 grandchildren, and 38 great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her first husband of 52 years, Arthur Hupp.

Joanne and Arthur moved to Westport in 1963. Joanne loved the culture, entertainment and excitement of NYC, and the opportunity for international travel that Art's job presented. In Westport, she raised her six children, all of whom graduated from Staples 1969-1977. She also indulged her love of gardening, and discovered her spiritual home in the Unitarian church. The medical emergencies of child rearing eventually led her to pursue a nursing degree through Norwalk hospital. In 1977 Art's job took them back to Michigan and then on to Arkansas for retirement. Joanne remarried in 2005 to her high school sweetheart. They returned to Michigan to be closer to family in 2013.

Joanne loved to dance, to write (presenting her family with her memoir at age 86), to garden, to golf, to play games with grands and great grands, to read, and to listen to music. All of her family will carry with them her humor, her smile, her joy in living life and her tradition of helping others as they remember her and the lessons she taught them.