Joan Patricia Best Spence

Joan Patricia Best Spence, affectionately known as Pat, was born on November 14, 1944 in New Haven, Connecticut to the late Johnnie E. Best, Sr. and Frances Scott Best, and was the older sister of Johnnie Best, Jr. (Shelia) and Curtis Lee Best (Keturah). She entered into a peaceful rest on Tuesday June 22, 2021. She was the beloved wife of the late Willie Spence and mother of Willie Spence IV (Cheryl) and late Michael S. Spence. On November 18th of 1967, Joan married the love of her life Willie Spence. God blessed this union with two sons; Willie Spence IV and Michael S. Spence. Joan worked for Blue Cross and Blue Shield in New Haven for a number of years. She then moved on to work as a preschool teacher’s aide at Sleeping Giant Daycare Center where she was a very respected educator and loved her students dearly. Joan was a lifelong parishioner of Immanuel Missionary Baptist Church in New Haven. Joan leaves behind her son Willie Spence IV (Cheryl) of Stewart Manor, New York; two grandchildren, Kristina and Michael Spence of Stewart Manor, New York; and her two younger brothers,

Johnnie E. Best Jr. (Shelia) of Hamden and Curtis Lee Best (Keturah) of New Haven; and a host of family and friends.

A walk-thru visitation will be held on Wednesday, June 30, 2021 from 10:00 – 11:00 AM, followed by Celebration of Life from 11:00 – 12:30 PM at Immanuel Missionary Baptist Church 1324 Chapel Street, New Haven. Interment will be Beaverdale Memorial Park, New Haven. Service by Howard K. Hill Funeral Services, 1287 Chapel St, New Haven. To leave a message of comfort for the Spence family, please visit www.hkh funeral services. com