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JoAnn Elizabeth (Carlson) Dolan, 85, of Clinton, died peacefully Jan. 4 after a brief illness at Branford Connecticut Hospice. She was the loving and devoted wife of the past 65 years to Harold Dolan and mother of their four children. Born July 26, 1932, in Quincy, Massachusetts, she was the daughter of the late Elmer T. and Ann (Lathala) Carlson of Sandwich, Massachusetts.

JoAnn made Clinton her home when she and Hal moved into their Kelseytown Road farmhouse in 1962. She cherished their homestead with its barn, horses, and acres of land that her children romped in and where the assorted family cats, dogs, and goat could roam freely. An intelligent and witty lady, JoAnn made friends quickly and did what she did best—brought joy to others and served her beloved community. Early on she was a Girl Scout leader, Clinton Congregational First Church of Christ Sunday school teacher, and the only woman serving on the Clinton Country Club Board of Directors. She was a member of Clinton Art Society, Clinton Historical Society, charter member of Clinton Cow Hill Yacht Club, and swam at the Westbrook YMCA at the crack of dawn five days a week until most recently.

She had a keen sense of what was needed to make a difference and how to get things done at home and in the community. Early on she and Hal started Dolan Christmas Tree Farm, reasoning the venture would help pay for their youngest son Scotty’s college education some day. That was 45 years ago. The tree farm flourished, Scott is a now top executive in New York City, and loyal patrons could be seen with grandchildren in tow at this season’s annual Dolan Tree Farm Barn Open House. In the 1970’s she began as a reporter for the Clinton Recorder and worked her way up to co-editor during a 10-year career. She is still remembered today for her humorous columns, where she often poked fun at everyday life in the Dolan household. Working briefly for the Hartford Courant, she also had feature stories in the New Britain Herald, Harbor News, and the New York Times newspapers and Reader’s Digest magazine.

JoAnn’s contributions to the community were many: she championed saving Stanton House museum and was charter member of that new non-profit; added school employee salaries to Annual Town Reports; produced the Kelseytown Gazette website; edited the Character of Clinton 350th town anniversary book; featured police chiefs in the 75th Anniversary program; and co-founded the “Brilliant & Entertaining Women of Clinton.”

She is survived by son Christopher Dolan and his wife Marlene of Manchester, Massachusetts; son Scott E. Dolan of New York City; daughter Kim Dolan of Ypsilanti, Michigan; daughter Tracey Pavlacka of Porterdale, Georgia; sister-in-law Peggy Carlson of Ireland; grandchildren Taylor Dolan of Brookline, Massachusetts, Lyndsay Dolan of Marblehead, Massachusetts, Jason Pavlacka of New York City, Jon Pavlacka of Porterdale, Georgia, Melissa Smith of Colorado Springs, Colorado, and Bennett Dolan of Manchester, Massachusetts; and great-grandson Colton Smith of Colorado Springs, Colorado. She was predeceased by her brother Frederick Carlson of Guilford.

Calling hours will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Jan. 11 at Swan Funeral Home, 80 E. Main St., Clinton. Services will be held 11 a.m. Jan. 12 at the Westbrook Congregational Church, 1166 Boston Post Rd., Westbrook CT 06498. Burial services will be private. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in JoAnn’s name to Families Helping Families c/o Miner Vincent, 248 Cow Hill, Rd., Clinton, CT 06413. For an online obituary, visit www.swanfh.com.