Joan Ryziewicz Kotula

Joan Ryziewicz Kotula, Daughter of Marian and Sophie Ryziewicz died peacefully 20 August 2014 in the Windham Memorial Hospital. Her husband of 57 A? years and her two daughters were with her. Joan was born on 15 February 1932 in Adams Massachusetts. Joan graduated from the Adams High School in 1949. Upon graduating Joan was employed as a Secretary at the United States Department of Agriculture in Washington, D.C. from 1948 to 1958. Joan married Anthony W. Kotula in 1957 to become Mother and Homemaker in Beltsville, Maryland. Her daughters, Kathryn Louise Kotula, of Mansfield, CT and Valerie Ann Moore, of Voluntown, CT, repeatedly blessed Joan for relinquishing her employment to care for them and her husband. Joan and her husband moved to Mansfield in 1992, where they designed and built their house on Maple Road. Joan actively participated in church, school, and community groups. She was a Reading Mother at St. Joseph's School, participated in Brownie and Girl Scouts Troops, volunteered at the Beltsville Junior High School, was a Member and Treasurer of the Beltsville Women's Club, and an organizer and Charter Member of the Friend's of the Beltsville Library. She was a communicant of St. Joseph Catholic Church and actively participated in Church activities. In Storrs, CT Joan was a communicant of the St. Thomas Aquinas Church. Joan is survived by her sister Paula Talbot of Midlothian VA, Paula's son Robert Talbot Jr. and his wife Jacqueline, also of Midlothian VA; husband Anthony W. Kotula, daughters Kathryn L. Kotula and Valerie K. Moore, and Grand Daughters Megan, Erin and Bailey Moore. Visitation took place at Potter's Funeral Home, 456 Jackson St. (Route 195), Willimantic, Connecticut from 8:30 to 9:30 am on Saturday 23 August 2014, followed by a Funeral Mass at St. Thomas Aquinas Chapel at 46 North Eagleville Road, Mansfield CT at 10:00 am. Interment was at the Mater Dolorosa Cemetery in South Hadley, Massachusetts at 1:00 pm on the same day. Instead of flowers, the family suggested you consider a Mass at your Parish.