Joan Shaughnessy Peet

Joan Shaughnessy Peet, a long-time resident of North Kingstown, RI, who recently moved to Charlottesville, Virginia, passed away on July 3, 2023, following a brief illness. Joan was the beloved wife of Christopher Peet, Lt. Col USMC Ret. for more than 60 years. Joan was born September 7, 1938, in Boston, Massachusetts, to Agnes and John Shaughnessy. She graduated from Regis College in 1960 with a degree in early childhood education and soon after met the love of her life whom she married in 1962. During the early years of their marriage, Joan was the hallmark of a military wife, managing multiple moves and serving as the head of household during Chris's several deployments overseas. She and Chris settled in North Kingstown in 1967, where she was able to obtain her teaching certificate and became a frequent substitute teacher in the NK School System. Joan and Chris joined St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Wickford and became active supporters, including serving Lobster Rolls, Clam cakes and Chowder at St. Paul's annual food service during the Wickford Art Festival. Joan ran St. Paul's Nursery school for 12 years, only retiring when her first class graduated from high school. In the years following, it wasn't uncommon for her to be walking through Wickford only to hear a "Mrs. Peet" called out by a former student who wanted to say hi and get a hug. She served a single term on the North Kingstown School Committee and her re-election bumper sticker is known to have graced some of the best wheelbarrows in town. After "graduating" from St. Paul's, Joan held numerous jobs in Wickford Village, including working at the Wickford Gourmet Shop. Procrastinators on Christmas Eve learned the hard way that no amount of pleading or cajoling could gain them access once closing time had come if Joan was manning the door. But, it was the decades spent working at Green Ink that gave her joy and created many deep friendships, although she was known to have made only one reluctant appearance in the Annual Holiday Television spot. Joan was a passionate and engaged mother - volunteering to support her children's school activities, scout troops and choir practices. She loved sledding on golf courses and always believed the only way to enter a cold lake was to jump in all at once. Her joy at being a Mother was surpassed only by her delight at being a Grandmother. Joan loved to be active - summers spent on Narraganset Bay as a member of the Wickford Yacht Club, playing tennis, swimming in Highland Lake in Maine, or packing up the family for skiing vacations. She and Chris were regular morning runners and walkers through Wickford Village and many set their clocks by their morning routine. This passion led to the marking of milestone birthdays with various challenges, including completing the 39-mile Avon Walk for Breast Cancer twice with her daughter and dear friend Barbara Dawson to celebrate her 70th and 75th birthdays (although truth be told she hated raising the funds to participate). For her 80th birthday, she and Chris went ziplining, and an early 85th celebration shortly before her passing gave her the thrill of parasailing in Key West. Throughout the years Joan served on many boards and committees but was particularly proud of her time on the Board of Trustees of the North Kingstown Free Library. She was an avid reader - although not of romance novels - and nurtured her love of gardening through membership in the Plum Beach Garden Club. Even shortly before her passing, she could be found tending her gardens. While she and Chris moved to Charlottesville, Virginia in 2021 to be close to her daughter, her love of RI never waned - nor did her support of the Patriots. But it was Dave's Market and their stuffies that she truly missed. It was thanks to a family friend and Federal Express that this treat was occasionally still enjoyed in Virginia. While Joan adored her children and grandchildren, her true love was her husband of more than 60 years, Chris. The brevity of her illness stands in stark contrast to the perpetuity of their shared devotion. Joan's life was defined by a quiet dignity. It should come as no surprise to those who knew her best that facing an insurmountable health challenge, she opted to return home and live her remaining days with respect and surrounded by those she loved. Joan is survived by her husband, Christopher Peet of Charlottesville, Virginia; daughter, Laura B. Peet also of Charlottesville; and son and daughter-in-law, Christopher and Lynn Peet of Bridgton, Maine. She is also survived by four grandchildren: David, Jennifer, Julia, and Jillian Peet; and many nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews. Celebrations of her life will be planned in Wickford and Charlottesville. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Joan's name to The North Kingstown Free Library Corporation, 100 Boone Street, North Kingstown, RI 02852 or All Blessings Flow . An online guestbook is available at www.compassionatecremationva.com Compassionate Cremation Services of Ruckersville, VA is handling the arrangements.

Joan Shaughnessy Peet

September 7, 1938 - July 3, 2023