Loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and sister
 
 Joan E. (Kuchle) O’Brien, 82, of Windham, formerly of Pelham, died Wednesday, November 1st at Windham Terrace. She was the beloved wife of the late David F. O’Brien who died November 11, 2001.
 Born in Middletown, Connecticut, March 12, 1935, the daughter of the late Rupert and the late Hazel (Sauermann) Kuchle, she attended Meriden schools and was a 1953 graduate of Meriden High School. Eager to further her education, she then went on to graduate from the University of Connecticut in Storrs with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Home Economics in 1957. She also earned her Teaching Certificate from Rivier College in Nashua in 1979.
 Joan was a longtime communicant of St. Patrick Church in Pelham. She was a woman of faith and loved to advise all to “Let go and let God”.  She was also a member of the Women’s Guild and the Red Hat Society.
 In 1982, she began employment as a school teacher at St. Patrick’s Grammar School in Pelham where she taught for over 20 years.
 Among her many interests, Joan loved traveling to the beach - especially Hampton Beach, walking, gardening, music, singing and going to the theater with friends in Boston. She was considered by all who knew her as a “Breath of Fresh Air” and was known for her infectious laughter. Above all else though, being all about family, she cherished the quality time she was able to spend with her grandchildren.
 Joan is survived by three sons General David B. O’Brien, U.S.A.F and his wife Laura of Tracy, CA, Jeffrey M. O’Brien and his wife Debbie of Liverpool, NY and Keith T. O’Brien and his wife Cindy of Pelham, NH; seven grandchildren David, James, Rebecca, Christine, Jeffrey, Meghan and Kyle; a great-grandson Malachi; and a brother George Kuchle and his wife Bernadette of Wallingford, CT.
 She was also sister of the late Donald Kuchle.
 Friends may call at the PELHAM FUNERAL HOME 11 NASHUA RD. in PELHAM from 4 to 7 P.M. Friday. Relatives and friends are invited to attend her Funeral Mass to be celebrated Saturday morning at ST. PATRICK CHURCH in PELHAM at 11 o’clock. Burial to follow at the Gibson Cemetery in Pelham. E-condolences/directions at www.pelhamfuneralhome.com. Those wishing may make contributions in her memory to Alzheimer’s Association Massachusetts/New Hampshire, 309 Waverly Oaks Rd, Waltham, MA 02452 or https://www.alz.org/MANH/ or The Make-A-Wish Foundations, 814 Elm Street, Suite 300, Manchester, New Hampshire 03103-2230 or NH.Wish.org. Arrangements by Funeral Director James F. O’Donnell, Jr.