Okhui "Joanne" Gilbert

GILBERT, Okhui (Cho) "Joanne" Okhui (Cho) "Joanne" Gilbert, 53, of West Granby, beloved wife of Joseph C. Gilbert, died peacefully on Sunday (February 22, 2009), at her home, surrounded by her loving family. Born on April 25, 1955 in Seoul, South Korea, she was the daughter of the late Jay Mung and Jun Ja (Kim) Cho. Joanne grew up in South Korea and moved to the U.S. as a young adult. Joanne lived in Texas for many years, where she owned and operated a restaurant. She was married to her husband, Joseph in 1986 and together they settled in West Granby, where they have lived for the past 12 years. Joanne volunteered for the Farmington Valley VNA, the Granby High School and assisted Korean families with young children in adapting to their school system in CT. She enjoyed camping and loved to travel. Joanne was a family oriented woman who took great pride in caring for her family. She enjoyed cooking, gardening, sewing, decorating and was a masterful home engineer. A loving wife, mother, sister, and friend, she will be greatly missed by all. Besides her husband, Joseph, she leaves a son, Joseph J. Gilbert and a daughter, Jessica A. Gilbert both of West Granby, a brother, Sun Thea Cho of Korea, his wife Kim Ok Ja, three sisters: Sun Hee Cho of Korea, Sun Ok Jean of Houston, TX, and Sun Im Stephens of San Antonio TX and her husband Jay Stephens, and one brother-in-law Mr. Bang; a mother-in-law, Joan Gilbert of Portland, ten brothers-in-law and nine sisters-in-law: George Gilbert III and his wife Carol, Stephen Gilbert and his wife Christine, Francis Gilbert, Charles Gilbert and his wife Donna, John Gilbert and his wife Diane, Andrew Gilbert and his wife Maria, David Gilbert and his wife Teresa, Patrick Gilbert and his wife Tina and Mark Gilbert and his wife Julie, a sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Patricia Lynch and her husband Anthony and 28 nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by a brother, Ji Cho and a sister, Sun Ha Cho. A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday 10:30 a.m. at St. Mary's Church, 51 Freestone Ave., Portland, CT. Burial will follow in St. Mary's Cemetery, Portland. Her family will receive friends on Thursday from 4-8 p.m. at the Hayes Huling & Carmon Funeral Home, 364 Salmon Brook St., Granby, CT. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Farmington Valley VNA, Valley Care Inc., 8 Old Mill Lane Simsbury, CT 06070 or Granby Ambulance Association P.O. Box 617 Granby, CT 06035. Please visit us at www.carmonfune ralhome.com for online condolences.