Joan Henderson, 93

Joan Rizzi Henderson, 93, recently of St. Clare Home in Newport, died peacefully in her sleep of natural causes in Newport Hospital on January 4, 2026. She was a mother, grandmother, great grandmother, and had several roles related to her profession as a nurse.

Joan, born April 17, 1932, was the only child of John J. and Ethel (McCarthy) Rothaug of Lynnbrook, Long Island. She was the widow of the late Norman W. Henderson of Weston, Connecticut, and had been previously married to the late John N. Rizzi, of Jamaica Estates, NY, with whom she had 2 children. Joan lived in New York City and Warwick NY, Weston CT, Narragansett RI, and then for three years at St. Clare.

Joan is survived by her two daughters, Phyllis of Wickford, RI, Marguerite and her wife Brenda of Tiverton, RI, her granddaughter, Emily, also of Wickford, and her three great grandchildren.

Joan was a member of South Kingston Congregational Church and a longtime previous member of Norfield Congregational Church in Weston, CT.

Joan was trained as an RN at Flower Fifth Avenue Hospital, New York City, in the 1950s, and she worked in that role for several years before and after her children were grown. She then earned a BN in Nursing from Quinnipiac College and an MBA at Sacred Heart University in Connecticut after which she had a long career in various consulting roles in the health and hospital industry. After her retirement she served on the Board of the Visiting Nurse and Hospice of Fairfield County, CT, the Weston Public Library, and as the Norfield Church Nurse.

Joan very much enjoyed her roles as a community volunteer, participating in Kiwanis Club events with her husband, Norman, and took great pride in her garden. For a number of years she enjoyed practicing sword Tai Chi, and boating. She played organ and guitar, had a beautiful singing voice and participated in many musical performances at Norfield Church.

She was devoted to her beloved dogs and cats. Joan bred and showed champion Cairn Terriers during her time living in Weston. Joan was very stylish and always took great pride in her appearance. She retained a life-long love of going to the movies and always enjoyed an afternoon at the cinema and a great film.

Memorial and interment service will be at Norfield Congregational Church in Weston, CT. Date to be determined. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, an institution that Joan enthusiastically supported.