Joan B. Hellauer, age 92, of Shelton, CT, entered into eternal rest on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, at Griffin Hospital in Derby, surrounded by her loving family. She was the devoted wife for 72 years of the love of her life, the late Robert E. Hellauer, Sr.
Joan was born in Derby in March 1934, the daughter of the late Jerry and Josephine (Speck) Berta, and was a lifelong resident of Shelton. Deeply rooted in her community and her faith, she was a parishioner of St. Margaret Mary Church from its inception.
Joan earned her Bachelor of Science degree and her Master’s degree in Education from Southern Connecticut State University. She went on to enjoy a distinguished career spanning many decades as an educator in the Shelton Public Schools, teaching fifth, sixth, and eighth grades at Fowler School, Long Hill School, and Shelton Intermediate School.
Joan was deeply admired and respected by generations of students, many of whom speak fondly of her and of the lasting impact she had on their lives. Her dedication to education extended to her fellow teachers as well. After achieving mentor status, Joan took great pride in guiding and encouraging new educators as they developed their skills and began their own teaching careers. Her legacy as an educator lives on in the many students she taught and in the teachers she helped to shape.
As proud as Joan was of her career, the true center of her life was her family. She and Robert shared a marriage grounded in love and an unwavering devotion to one another. Together, they built a beautiful life, raising their family, celebrating its milestones, traveling, and enjoying the simple pleasure of being together.
Joan was a devoted and loving mother who took enormous pride in her children and the lives they built. As her family grew, so did her joy. She was the beloved mother of Robert E. Hellauer, Jr., and his wife, Marianne, and Gretchen Hellauer Magel and her husband, Thomas. She was the cherished grandmother of Dr. Robert E. Hellauer III (Taryn), Matthew Douglas Hellauer (Samantha), Andrew Thomas Magel, and Christian James Magel, and the proud great-grandmother of Miles Jacob Hellauer. She is also survived by several nieces and nephews.
Some of the family’s happiest memories were made during vacations in Martha’s Vineyard, Chatham on Cape Cod, and Ocean City, Maryland. Joan also treasured the many winters she and Robert spent together at their home in Punta Gorda, Florida. Wherever the family gathered, however, was home to her.
Joan had a lifelong love of learning and a wonderfully active and curious mind. She was a voracious reader and an avid solver of crossword puzzles, with a particular fondness for The New York Times Crossword. Her intelligence, determination, and curiosity remained defining qualities throughout her life.
She will be deeply missed and forever held in the hearts of all who were fortunate enough to know and love her.
Joan was predeceased by her brother, Gerald F. Berta.
Friends may greet the family at Riverview Funeral Home, 390 River Road, Shelton, on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, from 9:30 to 10:30 AM. Her procession will leave the funeral home for a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 AM at St. Margaret Mary Church in Shelton. Burial will immediately follow at Riverside Cemetery in Shelton.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Margaret Mary Church, 50 Donovan Lane, Shelton, CT 06484, or online through the church’s giving page: https://osvhub.com/stmmshelton/giving/funds