Converse- Joan M. Grabiec Converse, age 81, of Shelton, formerly of Orange, beloved wife of the late William F. Converse, passed away on September 16, 2016 in Bridgeport Hospital. Joan was born on January 16, 1935 in Bridgeport to the late Peter and Mary (Niznik) Grabiec and has been a life long area resident. She was a graduate of Bridgeport Hospital School of Nursing. Joan worked for many years at Bridgeport Hospital, then at Milford Hospital and retired from Pond Point Health Center in Milford. She was a member of the Bridgeport Hospital Nursing Alumni Association. Above all else, Joan loved spending time with her family; especially her cherished grandchildren, and also enjoyed traveling and animals. Survivors include her devoted children, Lynne C. Ferrell and her husband Jim of Minneapolis, Kathy Charbonneau and her husband Jack of Wyoming, and Bill Converse and his wife Cynthia of Darien, 3 grandchildren, Alex, Haley and Kyle, 4 step-grandchildren, Tiffany (Cody), Michael, JD, and Rob, a great-grandson, Jackson, her sister, Mary Ann Tavella and her husband Joe of Monroe, brother-in-law, Vic Riccio of Orange, and several nieces and nephews. In addition to her husband and parents Joan was pre-deceased by her sister Arlene Riccio. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, September 23rd meeting directly at 10:30 a.m. in Holy Infant Church 450 Racebrook Road Orange. Interment will be in Evergreen Cemetery New Haven. Friends may greet her family on Thursday from 4-7 p.m. in the Adzima Funeral Home 50 Paradise Green Place Stratford. In lieu of flowers those desiring may make donations in Joan's memory to the American Heart Association 1 Union St Suite 301 Robbinsville, NJ 08691