JAFFREY — Joan E. Bacon, 79, of Jaffrey died Friday, Jan. 22, 2010, at her home with her family by her side after a brief period of failing health.

Mrs. Bacon was born on July 25, 1930, in Newton, Mass., daughter of the late Joseph E. and Margaret (Burns) O Neil.

She was a 1948 graduate of Wellesley (Mass.) High School and in 1952 she earned her Bachelor of Science degree from Simmons College in Boston.

She and her family had lived in Wellesley until moving to Peterborough in 1962. In 1987, they moved to Chapel Hill, N.C., and then moved back to Jaffrey in 2002. For more than 32 years, she loved spending her summers on Kezar Lake in Lovell, Maine.

Mrs. Bacon is fondly remembered for her tireless and loving devotion to her family and for being a great mom. She was an excellent seamstress and could always be found sewing or quilting. She also loved to cook and read constantly.

She was preceded in death by her only sister, Ann Huberlie.

Mrs. Bacon is survived by her husband of more than 59 years, Paul V. Bacon Jr. of Jaffrey; her daughter, Beth Bacon of Seattle, Wash.; her four sons, Paul V. Bacon III and his friend Terri Tedeschi of Bow, Christopher Bacon and his wife, Jean, of Antrim, Gregory Bacon of Palm Springs, Calif., and Michael Bacon and his wife, Judy, of Hancock; her two grandchildren, Christopher Bacon Jr. of Antrim and Kelly Bacon, who is serving in the U.S. Army and is currently stationed in Kandahar, Afghanistan; many nieces, nephews, cousins and close friends.

Per her request, there will be no calling hours and services will be private and at the convenience of the family.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Mrs. Bacon’s name to Hospice at HCS, P.O. Box 496, Peterborough 03458.

The Cournoyer Funeral Home and Cremation Center of Jaffrey is assisting the family with arrangements.

To share a memory of Mrs. Bacon or to send a condolence to her family, please visit www.cournoyerfh.com.