Joan Cholak

Joan B. Cholak, 82, of Stamford, CT, died peacefully with her family by her side on January 2, 2024.
Joan was a loving mother and grandmother and especially cherished spending time with her family. Her favorite pastime was watching her son’s and grandsons’ sporting events. She was a constant fixture at soccer, lacrosse, basketball, and football games. She often went to craft fairs, restaurants, and Broadway shows with her daughter.
Joan was the beloved mother of Karin Cholak and her husband Don Villeneuve, and grandmother of their sons Daniel and Justin Villeneuve, all of New Canaan, CT; and the beloved mother of David Cholak and his wife Carie Cholak, and their sons Darren and Jai Cholak, all of Bethel, CT. She was the ex-wife of Paul Cholak, of Boynton Beach, FL.
Born in Cincinnati, OH, on July 20, 1941, Joan had a wonderful childhood and fondly told stories about the many pranks and good times she had growing up there. She loved to dance and sing and played the piano. She was the beloved daughter of the late Alan and Vera Brickwood, and the sister of the late Nancy Brickwood, all of Cincinnati, OH; and the beloved sister of Diane Brown, of Wheaton, IL.
Joan was known for her friendly and upbeat personality and her ability to talk to anyone, and she made friends everywhere she went. She enjoyed line-dancing and traveling with her beloved best friend, the late Maureen O’Hara, of Stamford, CT, and in later years spending time with her friends from her Silver Sneakers class. She kept herself busy playing solitaire online, Wordle, reading, and talking to friends.
She retired from her job at the Dermatology Center of Stamford, CT, in 2016, and before that worked at Goldstein Krall Marketing Research.
She will be missed immensely. We will have a celebration of Joan’s life in early March. Details will be shared with her friends and family at a later date. In lieu of flowers, a donation can be made in Joan’s honor to either the Food Bank of Lower Fairfield County (461 Glenbrook Road, Stamford, CT 06906) or to the Ferguson Library Foundation.