Joan Frances McDermott-Proyet

Joan Frances McDermott-Proyet died peacefully early Sunday, September 10. She was born June 30, 1951 in Hartford, CT to John (“Jack”) and Kathleen (nee McGreevy) McDermott. After moving to Florida in 1958, Joan entered second grade at St. Francis Elementary in Riviera Beach, and graduated as class valedictorian. At Cardinal Newman H.S., she was a cheerleader, finished top ten in the Class of 1969, and was inducted into the National Honor Society. In 1969, Joan matriculated at Stephens College in Columbia, MO, to study Early Childhood Education. She enrolled at Florida State University to be able to participate in the Study Abroad program. She spent a semester in Florence, Italy. She just loved Florence, where she returned several times She considered her time there one of the best times of her life. Returning to the US in 1972, Joan chose to return to Stephens, where she received her BA Summa cum Laude in Early Childhood Ed. Joan was a beloved Kindergarten teacher at Jupiter Elementary. She enjoyed four fruitful years of teaching there, earning the respect of colleagues, the gratitude of parents, and the affection of students. Then, deciding she had reached a limit in education, Joan entered the Nova University College of Law, where she earned a J.D. degree and particular praise from former Supreme Court Justice Arthur Goldberg for her moot court performance. James C. Paine, a highly respected federal judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida, hired Joan as his clerk. She considered it a privilege to work for such a hardworking gentleman, not advocating, but discerning the law. Her time with him, and the years teaching, were two of the most satisfying experiences of her career. She also clerked for the Florida Fourth District Court of Appeal and was in private practice. Joan was an active member of the P.E.O Sisterhood, She also worked to provide Christmas gifts for teachers at the Hope Rural School in Indiantown, had been President of the Women Lawyers Association of Palm Beach County, and was a trustee of the Guild for International Piano Competitions. Joan met her husband, Jean Proyet at an adult evening Spanish class. They were wed February 6, 1987. They enjoyed another celebration in Jean's hometown of Valreas, Provence, France, in July of that year. It was not long before she was fluent in the French language. Thirty-six years of loving marriage ensued including many shared experiences and world travel; but also the years in which Jean cared for Joan through Frontal Lobe Dementia and a heart issue in her final years, just as she had cared for him before that. Joan will be remembered for her eclectic group of upright friends, her generous acts of private charity, her courageous stands for good people who were victims of ostracism, her love of beauty, her artful seasonal décor and her elegant entertaining. She was principled, loyal, and the best of friends. She leaves to mourn her passing her loving husband Jean Proyet, her brother, Bill McDermott, her uncle Bob McGreevy, numerous McDermott and McGreevy cousins, her close friend Solfrid Gjerde and many other good friends, in France and in the USA. Joan remained a faithful Catholic throughout her life and was a weekly communicant of the Eucharist until the day she died, (Thanks to Jean, Father Dan Devore, and Father Willliam O'Shea.) A low Mass of the Resurrection will be celebrated Saturday, September 23, at 11am by Father Nick Zrallack, Pastor, at St. Clare Catholic Church, 821 Prosperity Farms Road, North Palm Beach, FL 33408. For directions, see HOME | St. Clare Catholic Church North Palm Beach (stclarechurch.net) A private interment will follow. The family request that flowers not be sent, but that well-wishers consider a donation to Alzheimer Community Care, 800 Northpoint Parkway Ste 101 B WPB 33407 www.alzcare.org. Joan enjoyed many happy days at its Holly Drive location during her final years.

Joan Frances McDermott-Proyet

June 30, 1951 - September 10, 2023