Joan Ann Storey

ESSEX – Mrs. Joan Ann Storey, 81, of Essex, beloved mother of William Storey and wife of the late Anderson Storey, died peacefully on Saturday, June 27th, 2026, at Essex Park in Beverly, following a long, valiant battle with Alzheimer’s Disease.

Born in Woodbridge, New Jersey, Joan was the daughter of the late Andrew and Veronica (Gerba) Butkowsky. She was raised in Woodbridge and was a proud graduate of Woodbridge High School and Geneva College.

Joan began her professional career in publishing as an editor at Houghton Mifflin. While she appreciated the dedication it took to work through every draft of a book, she found that she wanted to share her love of reading with others. Joan transitioned into education and began a long and fulfilling career as an English teacher at Swampscott High School. She truly loved her students and built a lasting foundation for reading and writing in countless lives before her retirement in 2004.

A longtime resident of Essex, Joan had a deep appreciation for the outdoors and was an avid gardener and proud steward of Giddings Farm. She spent countless hours growing vegetables and tending the flowers which still bloom every spring as a “special gift from Grandma Joanie.” She loved spending her summers on Cranberry Island with Will, Andy and their beloved group of longtime friends; dancing to reggae music; and making her home a warm and welcoming place for all the family members, friends, and farmhands who gathered there. Above all else, she was a fun and loving wife, mother and grandmother whose beautiful smile and unrelenting kindness are deeply missed.

Joan is survived by her son, William Storey, daughter-in-law, Caitlin, and grandchildren, Lily and Conor, of Essex; her sister, Andrea (John) Clinton; her brother, Andrew Butkowsky, and many beloved nieces and nephews.

ARRANGEMENTS: Relatives and friends will be invited to celebrate Joan’s life at the family farm in Essex at a later date. Assisting the family with the arrangements is O’Donnell Cremations – Funerals – Celebrations, 167 Maple St., (Rte 62) DANVERS. In lieu of flowers, the family would be very grateful for any written memories or stories of Joan’s earlier life to share with her grandchildren, who never got the chance to know her before her illness. You may reach Will at william.storey09@gmail.com.