Joan (Gibbs) d'Hedouville, 74, of East Falmouth, died on Tuesday, December 21 at Brigham and Women's Hospital following a recent series of medical complications. She is the daughter of the late Wallace and T. Claire Gibbs.

During her 35 year tenure as an elementary and middle school teacher in Canton, she was awarded the Massachusetts Science Teacher of the Year award in 1989.

Ms. d'Hedouville loved boating, fishing, quahogging with her feet, creating container gardens, knitting and painting. She loved to travel abroad, volunteer at local community organizations and participate in book clubs. Drumming at Nokomis Beach sunsets and collecting shark teeth on Venice Beach were favorite Florida pastimes of hers.

She adored her seven grandchildren, Matthew and his wife, Emily Fronius of East Falmouth; Kaylan Fronius and her partner, Clancy Heicher; Trevor Fronius of Norwood; Shelby and Taylor d'Hedouville of East Falmouth; Andrea and Nolan d'Hedouville of East Falmouth and Joan's newest lineage, great-grandchild Evelyn Mae Heicher. She cherished her Cocker Spaniel, Wally, and her late Chesapeake Bay Retriever, Caleb.

She is survived by her daughter, Denise and son-in-law Scott Fronius of Mashpee; son, Eric and daughter-in-law Michaela (DeMello) d'Hedouville of East Falmouth; and son, Daniel d'Hedouville of East Falmouth. She loved playing cards and going to Foxwoods with her brothers, Wallace Gibbs of Canton and Lloyd Gibbs of Foxboro.

Visitation hours will be from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Monday, December 27 at Chapman, Cole & Gleason Funeral Home, 74 Algonquin Ave. at Route 151, Mashpee. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:00 am on Tuesday, December 28, at Christ the King Church, 3 Jobs Fishing Rd., Mashpee followed by burial at Great Neck Woods Cemetery, Great Neck Road, South Mashpee.

She lived her life by the motto, "Rely on Yourself."

Donations in her memory may be made to the charity of one's choice.