Southbridge : Joan Merry (Jefferys) Dirlam, 92, passed away on Wednesday, December 10th, in her home after a brief illness.

Her husband of 41 years, Peter B. Dirlam, passed away on November 26th, of this year.  She is survived by her children, Dale Marie Golden and her husband Hugh MacDonald of Oakland, CA and G. Jeffrey Crooks and his wife Pamela Crooks of Houston, TX; her six grandchildren, Drew Marie Assael and her husband Sam Assael of San Diego, CA, Evan Greene of Oakland, CA, Shannon Crooks Halvorsen and her husband Rob Halvorsen, Shelby Crooks, Courtney Crooks Miller and her husband Jeffrey Miller, and Nathan Crooks all of Houston, TX; her seven great grandchildren, S. Chance Assael and Dash Marie Assael of San Diego, CA,  Sam Halvorsen, Eli Halvorsen, Cheyenne Miller, Myles Miller and Levi Miller, all of Houston, TX; her former husband, George C. Crooks of Texas; and nieces and nephews.  She was predeceased by her son, Philip R Crooks formerly of Arizona in 1998.  Joan was born in Augusta, ME the daughter of Frederick and N. Althea (Cole) Jefferys.  She graduated from Brookfield High School in 1950. She received her bachelor's degree in teaching from UMass Amherst in 1954 and went on to receive her master's degree from Worcester State College.

Joan started her teaching career teaching 3rd grade in Troy, NH.  After moving to Sturbridge she taught 2nd grade at Burgess Elementary School in Sturbridge and retired many years ago after a 25 year career in teaching.  Joan was an inspiring actress in her youth and was able to continue her passion in her later years becoming a member of the Gateway Players in Southbridge.  While with Gateway she appeared in their renditions of "Arsenic and Old Lace", "The Glass Menagerie" and her favorite role in "Bye Bye Birdie".

Joan loved the water and taught swimming in Brookfield and sailed with George Crooks when she lived in Hampton, NH and then later all over Cape Cod – their sailboat was moored in Falmouth, MA.  As an Airforce wife she traveled all over the United States.

She also was very artistic and did tole painting as well as elaborate basket weaving.

Joan was a volunteer with the Harrington Hospital Auxiliary and served with her husband, Peter, on the board of Old Sturbridge Village.

Joan loved her cats.  She also loved to travel and she and Peter traveled around the world.

Joan will forever be remembered as a dedicated teacher and loving mother, grandmother, great grandmother and wife.

Her funeral service will be held on Monday, Dec. 29th, at 11:00am in the First Congregational Church of West Brookfield, 36 N Main St, West Brookfield.  Burial will be in Oak Ridge Cemetery, Southbridge. Calling hours will be held on Sunday, Dec. 28th, from 4:00 to 6:00pm in the Daniel T. Morrill Funeral Home, 130 Hamilton St., Southbridge.

In lieu of flowers, please Mail donations to celebrate Mother and Gateway Players Theater's 50th anniversary:

Gateway Players Theater, P.O. Box 171, Southbridge, MA 01550 or on their Facebook page  - Gateway Players Theatre Southbridge, MA