Menu
Search by Name
Search by Name
FUNERAL HOME
Joan Rivers Obituary
She was born in Manchester, Dec. 7, 1932, to the late Charles Sr. and Elsie (Carini) Minicucci. Joan grew up in Manchester, attended local schools, and was a graduate of Manchester High School, Class of 1951. She was a survivor of the 1944 Hartford circus fire. Before her retirement, she worked as a financial collector/manager for Beneficial Finance & Savings Bank of Manchester. She enjoyed spending time with family and friends, playing cards, bingo, and her occasional gambling trips to Atlantic City and Foxwoods. Joan and Carl frequented their second home in Vermont often. While there they enjoyed attending auctions and church dinners as well as playing scat. Joan also enjoyed the Manchester Senior Center, participating in activities and trips. Joan was a parishioner of St. James Church, Manchester. As her family knows, she is the "real Joan Rivers."
Joan is survived by her son, John Rivers, and his wife, Marilyn, of Tolland; her daughter, Terri Pelletier and her husband, Gary, of Ware, Massachusetts; her six grandchildren, Jason, Melissa, Amanda, Matthew, Alison, and Kimberly; seven great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; her brother, David Minicucci; as well as many nieces and nephews. In addition to her husband, Carl, she was predeceased by her brother, Charles Minicucci Jr.; and her sister, Esta (Minicucci) Gilmore.
Calling hours will be held Sunday, Jan. 13 from 2 to 5 p.m. at Holmes-Watkins Funeral Home, 400 Main St., Manchester.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Monday, Jan. 14, at 10 a.m. at St. James Church, 896 Main St., Manchester. Guests are asked to please go directly to church. Burial will follow in St. James Cemetery, Manchester.
Memorial donations in Joan's name may be made to the American Heart Association, P. O. Box 417005, Boston, MA 02241.
To leave an online message of condolence for her family, please visit
www.holmeswatkins.com
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Joan Rivers
Make a Donation
in Joan Rivers's name
Please consider a donation as requested by the family.
Memorial Events
for Joan Rivers
Jan
13
Calling hours
2:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Holmes-Watkins Funeral Home - Manchester400 Main Street, Manchester, CT 06040
Funeral services provided by:
Holmes-Watkins Funeral Home - Manchester400 Main Street, Manchester, CT 06040
How to support Joan's loved ones
Honor a beloved veteran with a special tribute of ‘Taps’ at the National WWI Memorial in Washington, D.C.
The nightly ceremony in Washington, D.C. will be dedicated in honor of your loved one on the day of your choosing.
Read more
Should I Send Sympathy Flowers?
What kind of arrangement is appropriate, where should you send it, and when should you send an alternative?
Read more
What Should I Write in a Sympathy Card?
We'll help you find the right words to comfort your family member or loved one during this difficult time.
Read moreResources to help you cope with loss
Estate Settlement Guide
If you’re in charge of handling the affairs for a recently deceased loved one, this guide offers a helpful checklist.
Read more
Obituaries, grief & privacy: Legacy’s news editor on NPR podcast
Legacy's Linnea Crowther discusses how families talk about causes of death in the obituaries they write.
Read more
The Five Stages of Grief
They're not a map to follow, but simply a description of what people commonly feel.
Read moreWays to honor Joan Rivers's life and legacy
Obituary Examples
You may find these well-written obituary examples helpful as you write about your own family.
Read more
Obituary Templates – Customizable Examples and Samples
These free blank templates make writing an obituary faster and easier.
Read more
How Do I Write a Eulogy?
Some basic help and starters when you have to write a tribute to someone you love.
Read more
