EAST MONTPELIER: Joan Fitch, 60, died Friday, October 21, 2011 at Fletcher Allen Health Care in Burlington, VT. She was born in Williston, VT on October 16, 1951 to Elwood and Virginia (Mongeon) Hempstead. She graduated from Champlain Valley Union High School in 1970. She married Larry Fitch on July 31, 1971, in Williston. Joan became a LPN after graduating from the Fanny Allen Memorial School of Practical Nursing and became a RN after receiving her Associates degree from the State University of New York. She later obtained her Bachelor's degree from the University of Vermont. She worked at the Central Vermont Medical Center on the medical-surgical floors, in the intensive care unit, and the emergency room. She then worked for Berlin Family Health and most recently, she was the school nurse at Montpelier High School. She was a member of Christ Church in Montpelier. Joan played in the Catamount Pipe Band for several years. She is survived by her husband of East Montpelier; her mother, Virginia Hempstead, of Williston; daughter, Nicole MacHarg and her husband Iain and step-granddaughter Aileen of Marshfield; son, Sean Fitch, of Middlesex; sisters, Marian Hempstead of North Kingston, RI, Paula Morin of Winooski, Roberta Schilling and her husband, Gary, of Churchville, MD; brothers, Douglas Hempstead of Lawrence, MA, Thomas and his wife, Tracey Hempstead, of Milton, David and his wife, Tracy Hempstead, of Williamsburg, VA; and several nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held on Friday, October 28 2011, at 11:00 AM at Christ Church, State Street, Montpelier. Calling hours are on Thursday from 7pm-9pm at the Barber & Lanier Funeral Home, 139 Main St., Montpelier. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The Gateway for Cancer Research, 1336 Basswood Rd., Schaumburg IL 60173. For those wishing to convey online condolences to the family, please visit www.barber-lanier.com.