Mary Joan Peronto died peacefully at home with family by her side on May 11, 2016. Joan was born in Lincoln, Illinois, October 23, 1929, to Blance Cummings Wiseman and Harold Landon Wiseman. Joan attended MacMurray in Jacksonville, Illinois and graduated from the University of Wisconsin, Madison in 1951 with degrees in history and science.
She began her work as a librarian at the Schenectady County Public Library in 1952 and was a reference librarian at the Berkshire Athenaeum in Pittsfield from 1967 to 2000. A life-long lover of books, Joan was a member of the Berkshire Writer's Room, co-chair of Children's Writing Group and a member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators. She volunteered in the "America Reads" project to encourage literacy in children and participated in a reading program for elders at Berkshire Place.
Joan enjoyed writing poetry and published a poetry book, Grasshopper Summer, in 2015. Her works have also been published in local anthologies, and children's periodicals, The Berkshire Review, The Berkshire Sampler; Hummingbird; The P.E.O. Record and The Rockford Review.
She was a member of The Sisterhood of P.E.O., Pittsfield College Club, Votre Soiree Dance Club, the Rosary Society of St. Francis Church and the senior choir at St. Francis and St. Agnes churches. She was a communicant of St. Francis Xavier and St. Agnes' Roman Catholic Churches.
Joan married Floyd Lester Peronto on August 25, 1951 in St. Paul's University Chapel, Madison, Wisconsin and together they raised seven children: Nancy Hipps of North Carolina, Jane Cummings Carlson of Wisconsin, Mark Peronto of California, Marjorie Peronto of Maine, Amy Marsh of Maine and Jim Peronto of North Carolina. She also cherished her seven grandchildren. She was preceded in death by daughter Mary Peronto and husband, Floyd.
The family would like to thank Brenda and Jim Ferguson, Dr. Patricia Lehmann, and the staff at Hospice of the Berkshires, specifically her nurse, Beth Ross, for their loving care.

Funeral Notice – Funeral Services for Mary Joan Peronto who died May 11, 2016 will be held Wednesday May 18th with a Liturgy of Christian Burial at 10:00 a.m., at St. Agnes' Church in Dalton celebrated by Rev. Christopher A. Malatesta, Pastor. Burial will be private and held at the convenience of the family. Calling hours will be held Tuesday May 17th from 4 to 7PM at DERY FUNERAL HOME, 54 Bradford St. Pittsfield, MA 01201. In Lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Berkshire Athenaeum in care of the funeral home.

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